RTX Named 2026 Corporate Partner of the Year by Naval Postgraduate School Foundation
Over the past decade, RTX has built a strong partnership with both the NPS Foundation and NPS, strengthening the research efforts and supporting the core educational mission of the Naval Postgraduate School in critical aerospace and defense technology areas. RTX’s support of a variety of initiatives, such as the Meyer Scholar Program, has helped cultivate the next generation of naval leaders and innovators by connecting students with industry experts and technologies. Learn more.
"NPS and RTX are innovating with speed and purpose to ensure that the technologies shaping the future capabilities are informed by those who will rely on them when it matters most.” — Todd Lyons, Executive Vice President, NPS Foundation.
“Active duty military officers have a perspective that those in industry would have a very difficult time attaining,” says Mark Rosenthal, MA in Security Studies ‘12, Raytheon Associate Director, Research, Thermofluid Sciences.
Coupling technical expertise with the real-world experience of the NPS student body helps shape technologies for operational use. Watch the video.
“The goal of cooperative research and development for us is to accelerate bringing capability to the warfighter,” says Hsin-Fu “Sinker” Wu, MS in Operations Research ‘02, Raytheon Technical Fellow, Systems Engineering.
The focus of the RTX-NPS CRADA is advancing naval warfare capabilities through research and development relevant to naval warfare. Watch the video.
NPS Advances Expeditionary Manufacturing Research Ahead of RIMPAC 2026
From the analysis of digital parts data to printing system components in austere environments, NPS researchers are advancing the limits of expeditionary manufacturing at RIMPAC 2026.
During the latest Joint Interagency Field Experimentation event at Camp Roberts, the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education worked alongside industry partners to evaluate point-of-need additive manufacturing workflows.
Enabled through a Partnership Intermediary Agreement with FLEETWERX, the collaboration enhances NPS research and education in additive manufacturing and supports efforts to identify components suitable for production in the field, pushing production closer to operational users at RIMPAC 2026 and beyond. Learn more.
Library of Congress Recognizes NPS Library for ‘Project of the Year’
The Dudley Knox Library received the first-ever Project of the Year Award from the Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) for its Institutional Repository Revitalization Project. The recognition highlights the library team's work to modernize Calhoun, improving discovery, access and usability of critical defense research while strengthening the long-term preservation of the Naval Postgraduate School's scholarly record and archives. Learn more.
Brazilian Navy Officer’s Award-Winning NPS Research Advances 5G Network Security
Recent NPS graduate Brazilian Navy Lt. Fernando De Oliveira developed a new technical architecture for secure and granular user authentication in 5G Standalone and emerging 6G-oriented mobile networks. Successfully implemented in the NPS 5G test environment, his patent-pending thesis research demonstrates potential applicability in defense communications, tactical networks, secure corporate environments, and multinational mission scenarios. His work earned the 2026 Winter Quarter Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for an International Student. Learn more.
Naval Postgraduate School students, alumni, faculty and staff are actively engaged in impactful discussions across a spectrum of critical topics, reflecting the expertise of the individuals and the institution's contributions to addressing defense and national security challenges.
Fireside Chat with Acting Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Hung Cao
Featuring Hung Cao, MS in Applied Physics ’08, now serving as Acting Secretary of the Navy
African Through AFRICOM's PerspectiveBy
NPS African Heritage Club
Sprinkle Some Cyber on It
By Lt. Mary Racicot, student, MS in Computer Science, Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
Keep the Steel in the First Island Chain
By Lt Col Brian Kerg, Certificate in Human Systems Integration '21
Episode 81, Part 2 – Igniting a Passion for Learning with Rear Adm. Michael S. Mattis
Featuring Rear Adm. Michael S. Mattis, NPS Navy Senior Leader Seminar
Visible vs. Valuable: Why Restructuring U.S. Special Forces Won’t Fix a Failure of Perception
By Maurice "Duc" DuClos, Guest Lecturer
Academic Freedom Is a National Security Imperative
By Capt. Roger Herbert (Ret.), MA in National Security Affairs '92
Capt. Kris De Soto, MS Systems Engineering '09, relieved Capt. Patrick McKenna as commanding officer of Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific on May 21. As commanding officer, she will lead about 5,000 civilian employees and military members worldwide, guiding the center's mission to advance Navy information warfare capabilities. Learn more.
Capt. Dean Allen, MBA '10, relieved Capt. Ryan Carey as commanding officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic on May 8. Allen brings more than 25 years of service and leadership experience to the command and most recently served as commanding officer of the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center. Learn more.
Col. Aaron Kia, MS in Engineering Systems '16, assumed command of Redstone Test Center during a June 4 ceremony at Redstone Arsenal. Kia brings extensive aviation, acquisition, and flight test experience to the role and most recently served as a product lead at the Utility Helicopters Project Office. Learn more.
Cmdr. Aaron Smith, MBA in Acquisition and Contract Management '21, recently took command of Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Sigonella, Italy. A Surface Warfare Supply Corps officer, Smith previously served in leadership roles across the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency, including deputy director of the DLA Headquarters 3-Star Strategic Initiatives Group. Learn more.
Rear Adm. Trond Gimmingsrud, MS in Defense Analysis (Irregular Warfare) and MS in Information Operations '09, has been appointed commander of the Norwegian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces. Gimmingsrud most recently served as acting chief of operational management in Norway's Defence Staff and previously led both the Norwegian Naval Special Operations Commando and the Norwegian Navy. Learn more.
Maj. Gen. Nilantha Premaratne, MA in Security Studies '15, has been appointed chief of staff of the Sri Lanka Army. Premaratne most recently served as commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force and has held numerous leadership positions throughout his military career, including security forces commander (East) and adjutant general of the Sri Lanka Army. Learn more.
Gen. Rajendra Chhetri, Seminar on Defense Decision Making, was sworn in as the 42nd chief of army staff of the Nepal Army. Chhetri brings more than three decades of military experience and has completed extensive professional military education, including participation in the Seminar on Defense Decision Making at the Naval Postgraduate School. Learn more.
Frank Garcia, MS in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography '90, was sworn in as assistant secretary of state for African affairs on June 1. Garcia previously served as senior advisor to the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and completed a 28 year U.S. Navy career, culminating as chief of staff at the National Reconnaissance Office. Learn more.
Airis Rikveilis, MS in Global Security Studies '06, has been appointed state secretary of Latvia’s Ministry of Defence. Rikveilis brings more than 25 years of experience in national security, defense policy, international cooperation, and strategic communication, including service as Latvia’s national security advisor to the prime minister and defense advisor in Washington, D.C. Learn more.
Kerri Cossean, Emergence Program '19, has been named senior strategy manager for U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations. Cossean previously served at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and brings experience spanning cybersecurity, emergency management, homeland security strategy, and disaster response. Learn more.
Heather Marques, MA in Security Studies '21, received the California Meritorious Service Medal during the 2025 California EMS Awards ceremony. Marques serves as division chief of medical services for an East Bay fire department and was recognized for her leadership in emergency medical services, contributions to firefighter education, and service to communities across California. Learn more.
New bill aims to regulate military uses of AI
