(Photo by Alex Dolce)

After more than a decade of distinguished service in the United States Army and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dan Zimmerman is continuing his mission to serve the nation – this time through cutting-edge research and technological innovation.

Now a Ph.D. student in computer science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, Zimmerman has been awarded the prestigious Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation Scholarship. He is a longtime mentee of  George Sklivanitis, Ph.D, at the FAU Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the FAU Sensing Institute.

This highly competitive scholarship will fully fund his doctoral research and provide guaranteed post-graduation employment at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City. Zimmerman’s doctoral research focuses on trusted artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and sustainable energy solutions – fields critical to maintaining the nation’s technological and defense superiority.

“We are incredibly proud of Dan and his remarkable achievements,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “The SMART scholarship is one of the nation’s most prestigious honors a student pursuing a STEM degree can receive, and Dan’s selection is a testament to his unwavering dedication, academic excellence and commitment to national service. His work exemplifies the mission of our college to drive innovation that impacts both our nation and our global communities.”

The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program is a comprehensive initiative awarding students full tuition for up to five years, mentorship, summer internships, a stipend and guaranteed post-graduate employment with the DoD. This unique opportunity opens doors to more than 100 cutting-edge facilities across various branches of the DoD, providing scholars hands-on experience in their field.

FAU Ph.D. student Dan Zimmerman

“I’m truly honored to be selected for the Department of Defense SMART Scholarship,” said Zimmerman. “This opportunity not only validates my commitment to advancing trusted AI and autonomous systems but also gives me a clear path to apply my work in service of the nation.”

Most recently, Zimmerman completed an international competition under the supervision of Sklivanitis, associate director of CA-AI, an I-SENSE faculty fellow, and the Charles E. Schmidt Research Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The competition focused on testing AI computer vision techniques to identify underwater species across multiple taxonomic levels, using deep learning models trained on the FathomNet MBARI dataset. Sklivanitis and Zimmerman have worked together on multiple projects, including an AI-powered fish recognition and data collection platform that received a Judge’s Choice award at FAU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science’s Senior Design Showcase in spring 2023, and FloodSense, an end-to-end platform for hyperlocal sensing and AI data analysis to enable near real-time forecasting of coastal flooding.

“Having collaborated with Dan across numerous projects over the years, this recognition is both well-earned and well-timed,” said Sklivanitis. “Dan brings a rare combination of technical expertise, mission-driven focus, and a deep sense of purpose to everything he does. I’m proud to have played a role in his journey and am excited to see the meaningful contributions he will make to the Department of Defense and to national innovation.”

A lifelong advocate for ocean preservation, Zimmerman dedicates his spare time to volunteering for the Wahoo Bay Educational Marine Park. His responsibilities as a software engineering lead for the park include creating and overseeing a citizen-science research initiative centered on environmental protection and education. Here, he guides student teams as they tackle environmental and data analysis issues in Wahoo Bay’s “Living Lab,” developing their engineering capabilities and encouraging their dedication to preserving our oceans.

Throughout his military career, Zimmerman held multiple leadership roles, from chief of respiratory care at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research to lead flight respiratory therapist for critical care transport teams in austere environments. His background in clinical care, logistics and innovation continues to inform his research and his approach to solving complex problems.

Zimmerman’s work exemplifies the mission of the DoD SMART Scholarship Program – developing top-tier STEM talent and ensuring America’s defense infrastructure benefits from world-class innovation. As he advances his research in AI, sustainability and defense technology, Zimmerman remains focused on a single goal: delivering trusted, practical solutions that serve the nation and secure its future.

The SMART Program is one of the largest education and workforce initiatives under DoD STEM, offering full tuition, stipends, internships and guaranteed employment to students pursuing degrees in 23 critical STEM disciplines. For more information, visit www.smartscholarship.org.

-FAU-