Top Supporters of HBCU Engineering announce Successful Merger Completion

Harris Corporation and L3 Technologies, two major supporters of historically black college and university (HBCU) engineering schools, have completed a successful merger.

William M. Brown, chairman and CEO of the combined L3Harris Technologies, recently announced the launch on LinkedIn.

"Today is a historic day for Harris Corporation and L3 Technologies as we launch L3Harris," he wrote. "We’re excited to introduce our new brand, leadership, and organization structure, including four mission-focused segments – Integrated Mission Systems, Space and Airborne Systems, Communication Systems and Aviation Systems. This represents a new era for the aerospace and defense industry as we continue to #FastForward to a future of affordable innovation that can be rapidly fielded. Please join me in celebrating this momentous day and thanking all those who worked hard to make this day a reality."

Last month, Harris Corporation and L3 Technologies set a date for the merger. Upon closing, Harris was renamed L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

“Receiving these approvals marks the successful completion of a thorough regulatory review process – clearing the way for one of the largest mergers in defense industry history,” said Brown.

Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator in communication systems, electronic systems and space, and intelligence systems. L3 Technologies develops advanced defense technologies and commercial solutions in pilot training, aviation security, night vision, and EO/IR, weapons, maritime systems, and space.

The select group of Harris alumni who have received awards at BEYA includes Emmanuel Collins, a pioneering engineering professor who worked at Harris before joining the College of Engineering to build the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Florida A&M University-Florida State University. Collins, who accepted the position of Dean of the Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville in 2018 after a 23-year career at FAMU-FSU, is the 2015 Black Engineer of the Year Award winner for College-Level Promotion of Education.

At the 2018 BEYA STEM Conference, Harris Corp's Lapthe Flora was honored for his involvement in the Stars and Stripes mentoring program. Flora, a South Vietnamese immigrant, migrated to the United States at 16, penniless and unable to understand English. More than 37 years later, he rose to the rank of brigadier general in the National Guard and is a senior engineer with Harris.

Harris employees selected as Modern Day Technology Leaders at the BEYA STEM Conference include Lance Davis, Yashica Hunt, Johnny Jones, William Majette, Darren Navaroli, Justin Alston, Neigel Creese, Adrienne Denson, Sharad Gupta, and Othello Taylor.

"These talented young professionals reflect the Harris commitment to maintaining a globally inclusive culture, which we believe is vital to our organization's success," said Jeff Shuman, senior vice president and chief human resources and administrative officer, Harris Corporation. "We share the goal of the conference organizers and attendees to strengthen the foundation of America's STEM workforce through K-12 involvement, college student participation, transfer of knowledge and best practices among STEM professionals, and the support of corporate and government leaders."

Raytheon Company and United Technologies Corporation (UTC), two longtime supporters of the BEYA Job Fair and STEM Conference, announced a major merger earlier in June.

Save the Date: BEYA STEM Global Competitiveness Conference February 13-15, 2020 Washington Marriott Wardman Park Washington, DC