MacDill Air Force base in Florida was formerly known as Southeast Air Base, Tampa. It was officially designated as a U.S. Air Force Base in 1941, and six years later it was renamed MacDill Air Force Base after Col. Leslie MacDill, an officer who died in a plane crash near the national capital. The site has been one of strategic importance since the Spanish American War of the late 19th century. MacDill AFB ceased flying operations in 1993, and is presently a communications and operational base.
It was in October 1931 that Hillsborough High School was transformed into the University of Tampa. The driving force behind this change was Frederic H. Spaulding, the high school's former principal, who wanted the recent graduates of the Tampa Bay area to have a local university to pursue their studies. Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, during the 2010-2011 school year, 6,500 students were enrolled in more than 125 areas of study, with International Business being the most popular major.
Although Troy is mostly a university associated with distance education and online courses, conventional courses are available as well. Based in the United States, Troy has satellite campuses all over the world, including this one just south of the Tampa International Airport. Programs are focused more on counselling, applicable skills and connecting with the community as opposed to pure academics. Special provisions exist for military personnel, including provisions for granting academic credit to Army personnel. Troy University also has an office at MacDill.
The University of South Florida has been serving the academic community since the 1950s. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the school has surpassed a few interesting milestones, such as earning a place as one of the top 100 research facilities in the United States and recognition by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF offers 23 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.