U.S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby lauded UAH Thursday as "one of the premier research and educational institutions in the United States" and urged local and regional officials to support the university's efforts in a speech at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Davidson Center for Space Exploration. "I believe that supporting our research universities, like UAH, is one of the smartest ways for Alabama to secure high-quality jobs and to secure the United States' competitive edge in the global economy in which we live today," Sen. Shelby said. "That is why I encourage all of you, the leaders of this community, to join me in strongly supporting UAH and the innovative thinking it contributes to Huntsville.