UH enters a new partnership that connects academics with real-world challenges

The University of Hawaiʻi System has entered into a new partnership that connects academic talent with real-world challenges, and fosters an environment where academic discovery and national service go hand in hand.

Last week, University of Hawaiʻi System President Wendy Hensel and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPPA) Director Kelly K. McKeague signed a five-year education partnership agreement to create a formal framework for collaborative research that will enhance education while advancing the DPPA mission.

The DPPA is a Department of Defense agency that is responsible for recovering and identifying U.S. personnel missing from World War II to the Iraq conflicts to provide the fullest possible accounting to their families and the nation.

Under the agreement, students and faculty will gain access to DPAA’s scientific expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, data collections and assignment opportunities, while DPAA will benefit from the University of Hawaiʻi’s innovation initiatives, academic resources, and talented staff and students.

“This partnership exemplifies how state and federal institutions can work together to inspire and nurture the next generation of researchers and public servants,” said Hensel. “Through hands-on experience and direct mentorship from DPAA experts, our students will be uniquely positioned to contribute to a mission rooted in honor, science and service.”

This agreement will also allow DPAA to continue to work with the University of Hawaiʻi on joint efforts to develop new methods and technologies to support personnel recovery operations.

Since 2021, DPAA partnered with the UH Mānoa’s Department of Anthropology to develop Cambodia’s archaeological capacity through the Cambodian Completion Initiative, which enables Cambodian archaeologists to potentially lead investigative and recovery-type accounting operations in their home country.

More recentlyThe University of Hawaiʻi System has entered into a new partnership that connects academic talent with real-world challenges and fosters an environment where academic discovery and national service go hand in hand.

Last week, University of Hawaiʻi System President Wendy Hensel and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Director Kelly K. McKeague signed a five-year education partnership agreement to create a formal framework for collaborative research that will enhance education while advancing the DPAA’s mission.

The DPAA is a Department of Defense agency responsible for recovering and identifying U.S. personnel missing from World War II to the Iraq conflicts to provide the fullest possible accounting to their families and the nation.

Under the agreement, students and faculty will gain access to DPAA’s scientific expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, data collections, and assignment opportunities, while DPAA will benefit from the University of Hawaiʻi’s innovation initiatives, academic resources, and talented staff and students.

“This partnership exemplifies how state and federal institutions can work together to inspire and nurture the next generation of researchers and public servants,” said Hensel. “Through hands-on experience and direct mentorship from DPAA experts, our students will be uniquely positioned to contribute to a mission rooted in honor, science, and service.”

This agreement will also allow DPAA to continue to work with the University of Hawaiʻi on joint efforts to develop new methods and technologies to support personnel recovery operations.

Since 2021, DPAA has partnered with the UH Mānoa Department of Anthropology to develop Cambodia’s archaeological capacity through the Cambodian Completion Initiative, which enables Cambodian archaeologists to potentially lead investigative and recovery-type accounting operations in their home country.

More recently, DPAA also worked with the UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine’s Willed Body Program to develop a database of isotopic signatures of Hawaiʻi-based individuals to establish comparisons with continental U.S. American and Asian populations to help distinguish Asian American personnel missing from World War II and the Korean War.

“The Daniel K. Inouye Center of Excellence, located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, is the preeminent forensic science laboratory in the world,” said McKeague. “Through this strategic partnership with UH, DPAA is able to leverage their cutting-edge academic research and technological innovation to advance our humanitarian mission. This collaboration also provides unique educational and professional development opportunities for students and researchers who are passionate about public service and science.”