In an effort to expedite the adoption of commercial dual-use technology solutions and improve the advanced education of defence executives required to utilize them, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) have partnered.
At the Sea-Air-Space Conference in National Harbour, Maryland on April 9, retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, President of NPS, and Doug Beck, Director of the DIU, announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). By expanding complementary efforts and future opportunities targeting education, research, and innovation through student fellowships at DIU, personnel exchanges, cooperative experimentation, and projects with the Naval Innovation Centre (NIC) at NPS, the MOU will build on past successes and existing relationships between DIU and NPS.
When the Naval Innovation Centre at NPS was announced in December 2022, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro stated, “I look forward to witnessing the vision for the Naval Innovation Centre coming to life at NPS.” The National Institute of Cybersecurity (NIC) will offer a unique learning environment where academic and industry collaborators will collaborate with our NPS students to explore and identify cutting-edge cyberwarfare solutions.
The capabilities of the Department of Defence (DOD) are based on American creativity and inventiveness. The National Defence Science and Technology Strategy, which was just released, recognized the close relationship between defence research and education and innovation and discovery, noting that DOD “cannot create 21st century capabilities using 20th century methods” and that “education is another cornerstone for building enduring advantage.”
With its emphasis on defense, NPS is a perfect fit for DIU, which collaborates with numerous Silicon Valley entities, including colleges and tech giants and start-ups, according to Beck. “With this partnership, we will link businesses with NPS talent and leaders in technology, acting as a catalyst for their learning and applied research to produce creative solutions for the combined force.”
The Secretary’s goal for naval education is to “develop the world’s most capable, adaptive, and innovative naval force in support of the President’s national security priorities and the National Defence Strategy (NDS),” which is outlined in the Naval Education Strategy and applied to the Department of the Navy. NPS graduate education satisfies national defence and naval-specific needs with its technical, outcome-based focus.
NPS Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Franchetti emphasizes the partnership with DIU to enhance warfighting capabilities. NPS, a leading technical graduate school, collaborates with DIU to empower students in solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology. Established in 1909, NPS in Monterey, CA, remains a hub for defence research and innovation, attracting top faculty talent. The partnership strengthens NPS’ role in rapidly adapting research into prototype applications, bolstering impact on the fleet and force. The Naval Innovation Centre at NPS, established in 2022, underscores the commitment to education, research, and innovation.
