; and (F) the development of mitigation strategies and techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire managers and firefighters. 3. Establishment of regional wildland fire research centers (a) In general The Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator and the Chief, shall establish a competitive process for the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire research centers in accordance with subsection (b). (b) Selection and establishment of regional centers (1) In general The Secretary shall select not fewer than 7 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and universities at which to establish a regional center to coordinate the development of wildland fire research. (2) Criteria for selection (A) In general In establishing a regional center at an institution of higher education or land-grant college or university under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize the selection of institutions, colleges, or universities that meet not fewer than one of the following criteria: (i) Have existing programs of record in wildland fire research. (ii) Have existing partnerships with research institutions of the Federal Government and other academic institutions and entities relating to wildland fire research. (iii) Participate in or lead a program under the Joint Fire Science Program. (iv) Are a minority-serving institution. (B) Regions The Secretary shall establish not fewer than one regional center in each of the following regions of the United States: (i) Alaska. (ii) California. (iii) The Northern Rockies. (iv) The Pacific Northwest. (v) The Pacific Islands. (vi) The Southeast. (vii) The Southwest. (3) Purpose Each regional center, with respect to the region covered by the regional center, shall— (A) to the extent practical, coordinate research with other wildland fire research entities, such as other academic institutions, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the United States