Capabilities
Ensuring Combat Effectiveness
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), with its mission to ensure the continued combat effectiveness of the Navy and Marine Corps, is taking the challenge of emerging technologies head on. Naval Warfare Studies Institute (NWSI) supports the Naval Education Enterprise and the Naval Research and Development Establishment along three lines of effort: people, concepts, and capabilities. At NPS, we develop the future leaders of the future force.
Integrating Cutting-Edge Technology into Naval Warfighting
Artificial Intelligence
In response to the Department of the Navy’s strategic concerns around Artificial Intelligence (AI), and for advanced AI development, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is integrating the ongoing efforts of researchers and students involved in over 100 current projects with a unique consortium focused solely on AI applications. Through the university’s education and thesis research initiatives, NPS students will be primary agents translating AI into naval operations. Read more:
Videos:
Courses:
- Artificial Intelligence for Military Use Certificate
- Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations
- Generative AI
Recent Stories:
- NPS Hosts Operations Research Professionals at MORS Symposium
- Naval Postgraduate School and Qualcomm Empower Student Ideas, Wireless Innovation
- From AI to Ships to People, NPS Acquisition Research Symposium Explores New Frontiers for Defense Innovation
- Artificial Intelligence Summit at NPS Accelerates Critical Capabilities
- HAI 2.0 - NPS Releases Artificial Intelligence Course Video Series
5G Networks
NPS' Naval Warfare Institute (NWSI) is partnering with private industry leaders such as Qualcomm to overcome current challenges of 5G development. The implementation of 5G technology has the potential to shape the future of warfighting.
Recent Stories:
Quantum S&T
Quantum mechanics, the study of nature at an atomic and subatomic level, is a quickly emerging field of research and technology. This new way to look at the world can improve how we navigate, communicate, compute and calculate, and Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Physics Professor Frank Narducci is at the forefront of the technology, especially in researching quantum technology with Navy applications.
Narducci and his team of graduate and post-doctoral students currently focus their efforts on quantum sensors that could detect and track platform motion in the absence of GPS capabilities, such as underwater or in space.
Current Research Programs
- Dual atom interferometer accelerometer/gyroscope
- A T3 atom interferometer
- Quantum states of light
- Quantum key distribution
Video:
Recent Stories:
- Naval Postgraduate School and Qualcomm Empower Student Ideas, Wireless Innovation
- Quantum Security for Microgrids
- Think FAST: NPS Student Applies Lessons to Learning in Pro Racing Debut
Podcast:
Autonomous Systems
NPS has a wide range of excellent, state-of-the-art research facilities that support underwater, surface, ground, aerial, space systems propulsion; guidance, navigation and control; combat systems design; electronic warfare; electro-optics; MEMS sensors; and many other areas. In addition to that, a well-established field experimentation program provides a unique opportunity to test a developed autonomous system or its sensor in a restricted airspace, 100 miles South from NPS or in Monterey Bay. These facilities are available for thesis research and joint projects between NPS, other service or agency laboratories, and industry through cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs).
Current Research Programs
The major teaching facility supporting Autonomous Systems Track
Center for Autonomous Vehicle Research
The main research facilities for the Autonomous Systems Track
Unmanned Vehicles and Autonomous Systems Working Group
Recent Stories:
- STEM Design Challenge Students Create Autonomous Solutions to Monitor Water Quality Environment
- NPS Researchers Recognized for Modeling Integrated Deterrence in INDOPACOM Region
- NPS POTION Software Helps UAV Break Records During Arctic Test Flight
- NPS Advances Energy Resilience Sustainability Through Microgrid Research
Hypersonics
The Naval Postgraduate School has several unique research facilities. These facilities have been developed to provide faculty and students with a dynamic research environment to work on problems of special interest to the Department of the Navy/Department of Defense. Classified facilities at NPS allow research up to the Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) level.
Propulsion Laboratory
This lab includes the marine propulsion lab, the rocket propulsion lab, and the turbopropulsion lab. The marine propulsion lab includes gas turbine and diesel engines. This forms the core of the instructional program in marine power and propulsion. The engines are utilized for both instruction and research. This lab includes a transonic compressor and turbine test rigs, a low-speed compressor test rig, a cascade wind tunnel and spin pit, Supersonic blow-down wind tunnels (2), free-jet facility, shock-tube and small-engine test cell with 8000 cubic feet air supply @ 300 psi.
Courses and Theses:
- AE4452 Advanced Missile Propulsion
- AE4502 Supersonic and Hypersonic Flows
- ME3201 Applied Fluid Mechanics
- Design and optimization of a hypersonic test facility for sub scale testing
Videos:
Recent Stories:
- NPS Student Operational Insight and Faculty Collaboration Advances Hypersonics Applied Research
- Naval Postgraduate School Joins Consortium for Applied Hypersonics Research
- NPS Team Makes Key Breathrough on Path to Electric Aircraft Propulsion
- Missile Defense Agency Chief Discusses Technology, Education, Mission During Virtual SGL
Cyberspace
Understanding the role of cyberspace in military operations is not limited to just the cyber experts and practitioners, especially in this modern era of Great Power Competition. With this in mind, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is launching the all-new CY4000 “Cyberspace and Military Operations” course, a new one-credit online class and it is open to all students. Read more about NPS cyberspace research:
Courses and Theses:
Recent Stories:
- From Astronauts to CubeSats, Space Education and Research at NPS Pushes Boundaries
- Defense Technology Exploration Continues to Thrive at JIFX
- NPS' Latest Small Satellite Launch Advances Comms Experimentation International Collaboration
- NPS Conducts Comprehensive Study Bridging Cyber and Electronic Warfare
- NPS Joins USCYBERCOM Academic Engagement Network
- NPS Professor Takes On Russian Cyber Operations
Space-based Capability
The Space Systems Academic Group (SSAG) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, is an interdisciplinary academic association providing direction and guidance for the Space Systems Engineering and Space Systems Operations curricula. The SSAG is also the focal point for space-related research performed at the Naval Postgraduate School. A major goal of the SSAG is to couple NPS space research efforts with the graduate education of military officers. This is typically done through thesis research topics but also includes the small satellite project which was created specifically for officer student involvement.
Courses and Theses:
Recent Stories:
- Navy DOD Leaders Discuss Space Capabilities During Second Naval Space Summit at NPS
- NPS Student Captures Unique Photo of Earth Using Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter
- NPS Accepted Into USSPACECOM Academic Engagement Enterprise
- Naval Space Summit Brings SECNAV, Other Senior Leaders To NPS
- Charting the Navy’s Future Course in Advanced Space Education
Additive Manufacturing
The Center for Additive Manufacturing at NPS, provides interdisciplinary research in additive manufacturing (AM) with special emphasis on the needs in the naval domain. Our vision is to integrate additive manufacturing with an array of emerging technologies to help achieve the highest levels of warfighters’ mission readiness, agility, self-sustainment, reach and overall power projection in its operations on the sea, shore, and air. Read more:
Current Research Programs
Recent Stories
- NPS, CAMRE Dedicate New Advanced Manufacturing Center
- Impact at RIMPAC: NPS Students Enhance Fleet Readiness with 3D Printing Technology
- NPS President Explores Links Between Additive Manufacturing, Warfighting Readiness with Panelists at Sea-Air-Space
- NPS, CAMRE Dedicate New Advanced Manufacturing Center
- NPS Consortium Advances Innovative Naval Applications of Additive Manufacturing
- CAMRE Helps Marines Take 3D Printing to New Heights Research