Weber State opens MARS Center in Utah, creates opportunities for advanced manufacturing

Weber State University (WSU, Ogden, Utah, U.S.) is opening the Miller Advanced Research and Solutions (MARS) Center thanks to a generous donation of $3.5 million from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. Located at the Falcon Hill Aerospace Research Park near Hill Air Force Base, the MARS Center will create opportunities for WSU students and faculty to research and apply innovative solutions to real-world problems in the realm of national defense. The Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) reports that it has a new Missile & Energy Research Center in the MARS building as well.

“With the opening of the MARS Center, we’re bringing the university to the forefront of our aerospace ecosystem in northern Utah,” Brad Mortensen, WSU president, says. “Thanks to a substantial gift from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, this center has the potential to transform our economy and set us up for success in the future.”

According to Mortensen, the center will bring students, faculty, university partners and the community together, providing opportunities to work alongside the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE) and other industry partners.

With this donation, WSU will provide hands-on learning experiences and prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing in the aerospace and defense field.

“Our family continually works to increase access to education and endeavors to support programs that enrich the lives of students as well as build stronger communities,” Gail Miller, chair of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, adds. “This center and its programs will play an important role in protecting our nation’s freedoms, creating a better world for future generations and inspiring students to solve real-world problems.”