AGP Executive Report

Birmingham VA Psilocybin Trial: The Birmingham Veterans Affairs Health System is one of five sites launching a clinical trial testing psilocybin for major depression in veterans, including those with PTSD—part of a broader push to speed up FDA review of certain psychedelics. Cyber Education Boost: ProjectXYZ is donating $250,000 to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville to help launch a research institute and fund a new 64-bed women’s dorm, with students also set to join as interns. AI for Beginners in Alexander City: Central Alabama Community College will host a free “AI Community Caravan” for residents on Aug. 28, with hands-on demos and expert-led discussion for people with no prior AI experience. Manufacturing Tech in Alabama: Alabama’s AMP Sports isn’t the only “AMP” in the news—Georgia Tech’s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility highlights how AI-driven “smart factories” are already being tested to cut scrap and speed up production learning. Pollinator Census Call for Alabama Citizen Scientists: The Great Southeast Pollinator Census runs Aug. 21–22, and Alabama Extension is inviting residents to count pollinators for real research. School Safety Cameras: Tuscaloosa City Schools is voting Tuesday on adding 16 security cameras to high school parking areas and central office, with Alabama Power providing equipment and the district controlling access to data. Sleep and School Performance: UA health sciences professor Adam Knowlden says quality sleep is tightly linked to learning and recommends shutting down smart phones before bed. Army Helicopter Training Overhaul: The U.S. Army is shifting helicopter pilot training to a contractor-run model at Fort Rucker, Alabama, under the Flight School Next program.

Medical Breakthrough in Alabama: ALL Kids says an Alabama child with rare inherited deafness (OTOF gene) became eligible for FDA-approved Otarmeni™ gene therapy, treated at Boston Children’s Hospital with the manufacturer providing the therapy at no cost. STEM Education Pipeline: Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences opened in Livingston with 79 inaugural students, aiming to build the state’s healthcare workforce as construction continues for its Demopolis campus. AI for Beginners Locally: Central Alabama Community College will host a free AI Community Caravan (Aug. 28) with hands-on demos for residents bringing laptops. Energy & Grid Innovation: The Alabama Mobility and Power Center and PowerBox Technology are running a smart energy pilot at the AMP Power Research Lab to manage complex on-site power systems. Defense Manufacturing & Contracts: KBR won a NATO PATRIOT modernization contract (up to $60M) with work in Huntsville/Redstone Arsenal; RTX landed a major Tomahawk production scaling deal, boosting output toward wartime levels. Data Center Tension in Cullman: Cullman’s planning commission will consider making its data center moratorium permanent, citing power, water, noise, traffic, and infrastructure strain. Wildlife Safety: Black bear sightings are rising across northeast Alabama, prompting state guidance for residents. Health & Nutrition Research: UAB and Cornell researchers report vitamin B12 deficiency can impair muscle mitochondria energy production in mice, linking low B12 to weakness and frailty.

UAB Research: A new study in The Journal of Nutrition links vitamin B12 deficiency to weaker muscle energy production, with researchers reporting reduced mitochondrial output and more DNA errors in mouse muscle—adding to concerns about frailty in older adults. Defense & Aviation Training: The U.S. Army will outsource initial helicopter pilot training to M1 Support Services at Fort Rucker, using Robinson R66 helicopters, while the Army also seeks industry input for next-gen Black Hawk/Apache engine production (T901-GE-900). Energy Manufacturing in Alabama: Callan JMB, ASU, and Bia Power Systems announced a $60M electrical manufacturing venture in Brewton to build transformers and power equipment, targeting major job and regional economic impact. AI in Politics: AI-focused super PAC spending is pouring into state and federal races, with Alabama among the places seeing big money tied to the AI regulation fight. Local STEM/Community Safety: Huntsville Cave Rescue is training new rescuers, highlighting how quickly cave outings can turn into high-risk rescues in Alabama’s cave-rich region. Health Tech Oversight: FDA inspection data shows one Talladega County-area device manufacturer received a July inspection result of “No Action Indicated.”

U.S. Army Aviation Training: The Army will outsource initial helicopter pilot training under its Flight School Next program, using Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Robinson R66 helicopters; M1 Support Services is expected to train 800–1,500 pilots per year while the Army keeps control of standards and safety. Defense Industry: The Army is also moving toward production of the next-generation T901-GE-900 turboshaft engine for Black Hawk and Apache fleets, with production deliveries targeted to start no later than 2031. STEM Research & Health: UAB and Cornell researchers report that vitamin B12 deficiency can impair muscle mitochondria energy output and increase DNA errors in muscle tissue in animal studies, linking low B12 to weakness and frailty. Local Education (ACAP): Cullman City Schools ranked among Alabama’s top systems in 2025–26 ACAP results, placing high in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. AI & Society: An activist who protested at OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco has been jailed, highlighting growing tensions around AI risk and public safety. Infrastructure & Community Input: Westover, Alabama, delayed a data center moratorium vote and scheduled a town hall after residents raised concerns about power and water impacts.

Military Aviation & Training: The U.S. Army picked M1 Support Services to overhaul initial helicopter pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, using contractor-owned UH-72 Lakota replacement training on the Robinson R66 under a deal worth up to $10B over 26 years. Transportation Infrastructure: ALDOT says Alabama’s new Diverging Diamond Interchange in McCalla (Jefferson County) has passed inspection, with traffic-flow and safety goals backed by FHWA research. STEM Education & Research Pipeline: The University of Alabama hosted a Biology Boot Camp for incoming students, pairing lab tours and study skills with faculty and student mentors. Health & Biology Research: A new study reports vitamin B12 deficiency can impair muscle mitochondria energy production and increase DNA errors in muscle, linking low B12 to weakness and frailty. Community Tech & Data Privacy: Huntsville-area backlash helped drive Flock Safety to cut license plate reader retention from 30 days to seven. Maternal Care Access: A March of Dimes report finds one in three Alabama counties are maternal health care deserts, forcing long trips for prenatal and postpartum care. Local Innovation & Workforce: DeKalb Works earned an Innovate Alabama Network designation to build talent attraction and workforce development initiatives. STEM Philanthropy: A Scottsboro fishing tournament, Castin N Catchin, raised a record $254,896 for congenital heart disease research at Children’s Hospital of Alabama.

Military Aviation Training: The U.S. Army selected M1 Support Services to overhaul initial helicopter pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, using contractor-owned Robinson R66 helicopters under a contract worth up to $10B over 26 years. Defense Tech: Huntsville-based Kord/KBR demonstrated FIREFLY, a truck-mounted high-energy laser system aimed at detecting, tracking, and disabling drones in seconds. Public Safety Tech: Flock Safety cut its license plate reader data retention in Huntsville from 30 days to seven after community backlash over surveillance concerns. Healthcare Access: A March of Dimes report finds one in three Alabama counties is a maternal health care desert, leaving expectant mothers with long drives for prenatal and postpartum care. STEM Education & Workforce: Alabama’s community colleges joined the Alabama Fiber Network as “anchor institutions,” expanding high-speed internet access and digital literacy support in rural areas. Advanced Manufacturing Jobs: Italian die casting supplier 2A USA is investing $32M to expand its Auburn facility, boosting aluminum casting and machining capacity and creating 50 jobs. Biology Research: A new study links vitamin B12 deficiency to reduced muscle mitochondria energy output and more DNA errors in mice, adding to concerns about weakness and frailty in older adults. Innovation Talent Pipeline: DeKalb Works earned an Innovate Alabama Network designation to launch talent attraction and workforce development initiatives in DeKalb County.

Aviation Safety Watch: Six months after a deadly Reagan National Airport crash, the NTSB says 51 of 52 safety recommendations are still open, with critics pointing to slow follow-through on FAA and military changes. STEM Education: The University of Alabama launched a Biology Boot Camp to help incoming students adjust and get ready for lab work and research mentoring. Rural Broadband: Alabama community colleges are joining the Alabama Fiber Network as “anchor institutions,” aiming to bring high-speed internet and digital skills training to underserved areas. Defense Tech in Huntsville: Kord/KBR demonstrated FIREFLY, a mobile laser system meant to detect, track, and disable drones in seconds. AI for Healthcare Costs: Alabama A&M student Daniel Lambo reached the AWS 10,000 AIdeas finals with CareLens AI, a privacy-focused tool that estimates care costs before patients seek treatment. Maternal Care Access: A March of Dimes report finds one in three Alabama counties is a maternal health care desert, forcing many expectant mothers to travel long distances for prenatal and postpartum care. Army Flight Training Upgrade: The U.S. Army selected M1 Support Services for Flight School Next at Fort Rucker, shifting training to a contractor-run model using the Robinson R66. Local Tech & Community: Somerville residents say they’ve traced a planned Bitcoin mining center to connected corporate entities tied to a Texas man, raising concerns about transparency.

Quantum & Defense Tech: Davidson and Strangeworks are launching a quantum-enabled optimization proof of concept aimed at improving complex defense mission planning in Huntsville. Space Security: U.S. Space Command is prioritizing offensive anti-satellite capabilities as China and Russia expand counterspace threats. AI in Healthcare (Alabama): Alabama A&M senior Daniel Lambo is a Top 50 finalist in AWS’s global AI competition for CareLens AI, which estimates care costs using privacy-focused analysis. Education Outcomes: Alabama’s spring 2026 ACAP results show modest statewide gains—ELA 57.1%, math 34.3%, science 47%—with performance strongly tied to poverty. STEM Workforce & Career Pathways: Baldwin Preparatory Academy is adding health science, cosmetology, and a drone program with dual-enrollment options. Public Health Tech: New research highlights how health kiosks and pharmacy automation can support disease detection and medication access, while stressing they should complement clinicians. School Funding: Alabama’s education department budget proposes no new funded personnel as costs rise. Propulsion Milestone: Lockheed Martin/L3Harris report a successful high-vacuum static-fire test for the Next Generation Interceptor Stage 2 motor. Rural Hospitals Pressure: A broader look at rural hospital “freefall” traces how shrinking reimbursements and disappearing services threaten closures.

Space Science in Alabama: UAH researchers have identified a new eyeless, colorless “demon cavefish” species (Demogorgonichthys arcanus) in Bobcat Cave beneath Redstone Arsenal, a site monitored for decades—reshaping how scientists think about evolution in extreme underground habitats. Public Health: Gulf Coast health officials report a spike in Vibrio vulnificus (“flesh-eating” bacteria) cases in 2026, with Alabama recording 16 infections and at least one death, and Alabama also seeing skin/soft-tissue involvement. STEM Education & Policy: AL.com’s analysis of Alabama virtual school report cards finds a mixed performance picture—some virtual programs improved or matched districts, while others lagged, especially in math. Workforce & Local Growth: Cullman approved a $58M shopping center development expected to bring 15–20 new businesses, while Alabama Community College System approved up to $10M for industry certification training. AI for Safer Power Systems: NSF funded UAB engineering research with a five-year CAREER award to build safer, explainable AI control for smart power converters. Defense Tech: Collins Aerospace won up to a $472M U.S. Army contract to modernize CH-47 Chinook avionics, with engineering work in Huntsville.

New Species in Alabama Caves: UAH researchers report a new eyeless “demon cavefish” genus, Demogorgonichthys arcanus, found in Bobcat Cave under Redstone Arsenal—an example of convergent evolution and a reminder that military-linked contamination can threaten hidden habitats. Broadband for Rural Alabama: The Alabama Community College System is partnering with the Alabama Fiber Network and utilities to connect all 24 community/technical colleges to high-speed fiber by end of 2027, with public Wi‑Fi and digital literacy support for underserved communities. Counter-Drone Tech Push: At the Space & Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Pentagon officials said they’re moving to deploy high-powered lasers and other counter-UAS tools faster by tightening coordination across the FAA, DHS, and new tech for airports and installations. Cancer Research in Alabama: UAB researchers are challenging long-held ideas about how cancer cells copy DNA, with a renewed NCI-funded grant exploring the origin recognition complex’s role in tumor growth. Workforce & Training: DEX Imaging visited Cullman Area Technology Academy as part of a new contract, highlighting career pathways from cybersecurity and healthcare to welding and industrial maintenance. Health & Nutrition Study: A Cornell/UAB study links vitamin B12 deficiency to weaker muscle energy production in mice, tied to mitochondrial output drops and more DNA errors. Local Impact: Alabama A&M student Ta’Lyjah Moore was killed in a Huntsville gas station shooting; authorities charged two men with reckless murder. Higher-Ed Governance: Jacksonville State trustees approved steps to implement Alabama’s new higher-education governance law affecting faculty senates, tenure reviews, and curriculum oversight.

UAB Research & Health: A new study in The Journal of Nutrition links vitamin B12 deficiency to weaker muscle energy production, with mouse results showing reduced mitochondrial output and more DNA errors—adding to concerns about frailty in older adults. Missile Defense in Alabama: At the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein warned the “Golden Dome” program could halt in October without a new funding path, highlighting a reconciliation funding trap. Defense Tech Testing: Lockheed Martin says it completed a key burst test of the Next Generation Interceptor’s second-stage motor case at its Courtland-built program site, moving toward later design reviews. Space & Defense Industry Growth: Frontgrade Technologies opened a Huntsville R&D center in Cummings Research Park to develop mission-processing tech for space, intelligence, and national security. Army Aviation Modernization: Collins Aerospace won up to a $472M U.S. Army contract for CH-47 Chinook avionics upgrades, with work planned in Huntsville. Manufacturing Jobs: 2A USA announced a $32M Auburn expansion creating 50 jobs in die casting and machining. STEM Workforce & Training: The Alabama Community College System approved renaming the G-TECH main building in Geneva after Sen. Donnie Chesteen, tied to the facility’s workforce-development push. Public Health Access: A March of Dimes report says over half of U.S. counties lack hospital-based labor and delivery services, with Alabama highlighted for growing reliance on midwives.

UAB & UAH Research: A new study in The Journal of Nutrition links vitamin B12 deficiency to weaker muscle energy production, with researchers reporting reduced mitochondrial output and more DNA errors in muscle tissue—work involving Cornell and UAB. Fulbright Engineering: UAH in Huntsville welcomes its first Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence to expand international chemical engineering education and research through the 2026-27 academic year. STEM in the Classroom: Northeast Alabama Community College hosted a Google-sponsored robotics camp for 7th and 8th graders, with students building and racing remote-controlled robots. Defense Tech in Huntsville: At the Space & Missile Defense Symposium, Golden Dome leaders say the missile defense effort has completed two successful secret tests and is aiming for operational capability by 2028, but warn funding uncertainty could halt progress. Drones for the Pentagon: Performance Drone Works (PDW) won up to $820M to expand Huntsville manufacturing of next-gen UAS components. Local Tech Policy: A national K-12 tech group urged districts to focus on “low-value screen use” rather than strict screen-time minutes, as Alabama and other states move to limit devices. Health Policy Debate: Alabama pediatricians push back on a Trump executive order recommending fewer childhood vaccines over a longer period, saying Alabama’s schedule likely won’t change. Community Support: Tuscaloosa Municipal Court’s “Pack the Campuses” drive is collecting hygiene and food supplies for college students. Nuclear Energy Watch: TVA says it’s preserving the Bellefonte site for possible future small modular reactor development, depending on negotiations.

Early Learning & Curriculum: Jasper City Schools opened a new Pre-K Center with four classrooms, doubling capacity and pairing it with districtwide curriculum refinement after reaching Level 3 in the Marzano high-reliability program. AI Infrastructure & Community Investment: Meta announced a $1 billion “Future Is for Everyone” fund for data-center host communities, including Montgomery, targeting schools, first responders, and energy/water upgrades; Meta also highlighted a robotics push with Montgomery Public Schools. Missile Defense Testing in Huntsville: Lockheed Martin and L3Harris completed a successful second-stage solid rocket motor test for the Next Generation Interceptor, aiming for key design review milestones and fielding later this decade. Hypersonics Supply Chain: Lockheed tapped Albany Engineered Composites for a 3D-woven composite aeroshell for the Next Generation Glide Body to help shift toward lower-cost, mass-producible hypersonic manufacturing. Water Cybersecurity: A new push pairs federal legislation (Water Cyber Shield Act) with a DEF CON Water Watch Center to help small utilities defend against widening cyberattacks. Power & Grid Manufacturing in Alabama: Callan JMB, Bia Power Systems, and Alabama State University launched a $60M advanced transformer/electrical-equipment venture in Brewton, targeting up to 250 jobs and $150M+ annual revenue capacity. STEM Career Pipeline: A new STREAM program is bringing hands-on science, tech, engineering, arts, and math activities to students through local partners. Space Science Visuals: NASA telescopes produced a colorful composite “craft” image of the Tarantula Nebula, combining Chandra X-rays and Webb infrared views.

Radiation Safety Tech: UAB startup LifeNuclear is building TheraGuide, a digital platform to help patients and caregivers follow post-radiopharmaceutical therapy radiation-safety instructions with interactive checklists, multilingual support, and personalized timelines. Shipbuilding & Defense: Hanwha has submitted a preliminary offer to buy Austal USA’s U.S. shipbuilding arm (Mobile, Alabama), with Austal responding with an estimated $1.05B–$1.2B price range and a due-diligence window. Lunar Plans: NASA’s Moon Base concept is advancing with commercial landers from Blue Origin, Firefly, Intuitive Machines, and Voyager Lunar Systems, targeting 20+ robotic landings through 2029. Mental Health Research: VA will test psilocybin for veterans with treatment-resistant depression and PTSD, with Alabama sites including Birmingham VA and the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center. Education Policy: Alabama schools are shifting back to phonics under a new ban on the “three-cueing system,” while a national nonprofit guide addresses new K-12 screen-time and technology rules affecting Alabama districts. Cybersecurity: New reporting says water and wastewater systems across multiple states are facing attacks tied to industrial controllers, with CISA urging owners to remove exposed systems from the internet. Energy Storage: Sodium-ion batteries using abundant salt-based materials are starting to reach the market, aiming to reduce reliance on scarce battery inputs. Missile Defense Testing: Lockheed Martin and L3Harris report a successful hot-fire static test of the Next Generation Interceptor stage 2 solid rocket motor.

Defense & Space Tech: Raytheon won a $745.39M Missile Defense Agency production action for Standard Missile-3 Block IIA all-up rounds, extending interceptor manufacturing through Feb. 2031, with work in Huntsville and Tucson. Local Industry Jobs: Duotech Services cut the ribbon on a new 25,000-square-foot Huntsville facility focused on test, repair, and remanufacture of defense electronics, creating 50 quality jobs. U.S. Army Drones: The Army ran flight demos at Clarke Range near Anniston for platoon-level short-range reconnaissance small UAS, aiming to scale persistent RSTA capabilities. Healthcare Research: The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center is joining a national psilocybin trial for veterans with treatment-resistant major depression (with PTSD allowed), part of VA’s push to speed serious mental illness research. Public Health & Equity: A JAMA Network Open study links neighborhood social vulnerability to a 20% higher ovarian cancer death risk and finds Black women face a 45% higher risk than white women, pointing to residential context as a driver of disparities. STEM Education & Workforce: Northeast Alabama Community College hosted a Google-funded robotics camp where 60+ students built and raced robots, feeding into mechatronics and robotics training. Cybersecurity: Alabama confirmed its water system was targeted in a hacking campaign, with industrial control systems hit but no major service disruption reported.