Sci-Fi Concept of a Golden Dome safeguarding the United States from space, illustrating strategic defense systems. AI generated by Raja for Adobestock
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering will serve as the coordinating hub for a landmark national defense contract that positions Florida State University among an elite tier of research institutions eligible to compete for homeland security projects over the next decade.
Florida State University has been awarded a contract for the Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with a ceiling of $151 billion. This contract encompasses a broad range of engineering research and defense technology work that allows for the rapid delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter with increased speed and agility.
The SHIELD program is a central element of the emerging “Golden Dome for America” homeland defense initiative. Its primary mission is to enhance the nation’s ability to detect, track, intercept and neutralize advanced aerial threats—including ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles—within a multi-domain context.
Elite Tier Defense Technology Research Designation
“This selection provides us with a ‘seat at the table’ to help develop the next generation of U.S. homeland defense,” said FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Dean Suvranu De, who helped lead a coordinated effort to organize and submit the proposal. “This is a gateway that allows FSU to compete for task orders over the next decade, underscoring our standing as a top-tier national research hub for defense technology.”
Being selected as an awardee places FSU in an elite tier of research institutions and defense contractors designated as prime contractors under the SHIELD IDIQ, eligible to compete for task and delivery orders. In addition, FSU may also serve as a subcontractor to other SHIELD awardees, enabling participation in additional projects through collaborative partnerships as task orders are issued.
College of Engineering Leads Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The joint college will serve as the coordinating hub for SHIELD-related activities, while individual projects will be led by researchers at the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion, Center for Advanced Power Systems and High-Performance Materials Institute, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research and Education.
This collaborative approach allows the university to offer coordinated, interdisciplinary solutions spanning research and development, prototyping, systems engineering, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
“This contract represents a paradigm shift in how we approach defense innovation,” said Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “FSU is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between fundamental research and operational reality. By aligning the specialized power, materials, aerospace, high field magnets, and cyber command and control capabilities of our renowned centers with the immediate needs of the Missile Defense Agency, we are ensuring that our faculty and students are directly solving the nation’s most complex engineering challenges.”
Center directors were actively engaged throughout the Fall 2025 semester to prepare a compelling proposal that highlights the unique capabilities of FSU’s research ecosystem.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Sonnet 4.5, an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI optimized the article for SEO discoverability, improved clarity, structure and readability while preserving the original reporting and factual content. All information and viewpoints remain those of the author and publication. This article was edited and fact-checked by college staff before being published. This disclosure is part of our commitment to transparency in our editorial process. Last edited: 01/29/2026.
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