WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Armed Services Committee, advocated to the Department of the Air Force for an Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program at Elizabeth City State University, one of 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in North Carolina.

Watch the video HERE. 

“North Carolina has the most historically black colleges and universities in the nation,” said Senator Tillis. “We have 11. We have the largest at NC A&T and we have the most affordable down at Elizabeth City State. They’ve got a program specifically focused on aviation science. They are doing a good job there, they’ve got a great collaboration with the Coast Guard and we are working right now to help out maybe with some runway upgrades. They also have the college student pre-commissioning initiative there that I think has been very good for talent building. One thing I would be interested in getting your commitment to is just considering whether or not we can have an Air force ROTC Program down there, just to take a look at it. I had some of my staff down there recently visiting with the Chancellor. It’s an impressive program. We’ve got a record of collaboration with the Coast Guard and I’d like you all to give that a look. Can I get your commitment to take a look at that?”

Senator Tillis has been a champion for North Carolina HBCUs. Last week, Tillis participated in a bipartisan panel at the 2020 HBCU Fly-In hosted by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). The conference allows Presidents and Chancellors of HBCUs to continue the discussion on how to advance opportunities for black youth and participate in an open dialogue around bettering HBCU’s and minority-serving institutions (MSI).

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