Biography

In January 2024, Dr. Reginald Cooper assumed the role of Chief Technology Officer at Howard University's Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy (RITA) University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). Prior to this, he served in civilian capacities with the Department of Defense (DoD), most notably as a Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) within the Strategic Technology Office, and earlier as a Senior Research Electronics Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensors Directorate.

Dr. Cooper is an alumnus of Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He furthered his education at Carnegie Mellon University, earning both master's and doctoral degrees in electrical & computer engineering. His research journey began with the Air Force Minority Leaders Research Collaboration Program, focusing on developing wireless communications for cognitive radio networks in dynamic environments. Over time, his research interests have broadened to encompass various radio frequency (RF) sensors and systems, particularly in the realm of electromagnetic warfare systems.

Additionally, Dr. Cooper is dedicated to mentorship, aiming to motivate and guide others toward success in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).