Operationalizing AI for National Security
at the Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is advancing artificial intelligence to meet the needs of the Naval and Joint Forces through a coordinated effort that combines education, research and problem solving.
The NPS AI Task Force is building a unified effort to accelerate the Navy and Marine Corps’ ability to understand, adopt, and operationalize artificial intelligence. It integrates advanced education, applied research, secure infrastructure, and prototyping to deliver AI-ready warfighters and mission-aligned capabilities.
The AI Task Force focuses on five lines of effort:
Build an AI-Ready Naval Workforce Provide Secure and Scalable AI Infrastructure
Accelerate Applied AI
Research and Prototyping for Mission Impact
Drive Collaborative AI Efforts Across Naval Stakeholders
Support Combatant Command and Naval Service Priorities
By connecting research, education and operational application, the AI Task Force ensures that NPS delivers AI solutions that are relevant, secure, and ready to enhance naval warfighting effectiveness.
The NVIDIA AI Tech Center
Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with NVIDIA, NPS established an AI Tech Center in 2025 equipped with advanced platforms and expertise. The Tech Center is outfitted with DGX systems, Blackwell GPUs, Jetson devices and the Omniverse platform. A combined gift from Dell Technologies, Sterling Computers and NVIDIA delivered the infrastructure needed to operate the hardware across unclassified, CUI and classified environments.
Upon acceptance by the Secretary of the Navy, NVIDIA will deliver their GB300 NVL72 to NPS, the first of its kind for the Naval and Joint Force, expanding AI compute capacity and enabling large-scale experimentation and model training across domains. It is expected that the system will be fully installed and operational by the end of 2025. These resources position NPS as a leader in applied AI experimentation and education.
NPS Foundation Role
The Naval Postgraduate School Foundation plays a central role in advancing AI at NPS by providing the resources and mechanisms that make partnerships like the NPS–NVIDIA collaboration successful. The Foundation has committed up to $2 million to support AI initiatives at NPS including the hiring of mentors, research technicians, and a dedicated program portfolio manager, as well as direct funding for infrastructure, hardware, software and lab resources that sustain education, research and prototype development. As a Partner Intermediary, the Foundation hosts events, activities, and challenges that foster collaboration and increase the creative collisions between students, faculty, and industry innovators that drive discovery and accelerate progress.
All gifts of technology and equipment to are facilitated through the Foundation. This structure ensures transparency with the Department of the Navy while enabling continued private investment in innovation projects that deliver measurable impact for the Naval and Joint Force. It also provides the framwork and a clear pathway for funding, equipping and sustaining the Naval Innovation Center at NPS with new technologies and state-of-the-art equipment.
Operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to support the Naval Postgraduate School, as well as under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with NPS and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of the Navy, the Foundation serves as a trusted partner in integrating private-sector innovation into defense education and research.
Digital Trident AI Challenge
The Digital Trident AI Challenge is designed to increase mission impact by leveraging cutting-edge NVIDIA technologies and tools available at NPS through a collaborative agreement. With support from industry partners, seven Naval Postgraduate School faculty-student teams are developing AI solutions to address national security challenges. These projects were selected to receive a total of $825,000 in funding provided by the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation.
Ongoing projects selected through the Digital Trident AI Challenge include:
BOMA NIX: AI-Enhanced Passive Sensing and Interoperable C2 for Maritime Operations (PI: Prof. Kevin Smith)
Develops interoperable sensing and C2 architectures for multinational maritime missions.Advances NATO and DOD maritime integration through physical AI experimentation.
Advances NATO and DOD maritime integration through physical AI experimentation.
AI-Driven Seeker Autonomy and Omniverse-Integrated Digital Twin for Low-Cost Missile Development
(PI: Maj. Dillon Pierce)
Accelerates design and testing of autonomous weapons systems using digital twin modeling.
Supports affordable, scalable missile architectures aligned with operational needs.
Towards Ultra Long Endurance Flight Around the World (PI: Prof. Mark Karpenko)
Improves endurance, adaptability, and autonomy of UAVs for operations in remote or denied areas.
Enables new mission planning and platform development for long-range, persistent flight.
Terahertz Imaging Camera for Upper Atmosphere Surveillance (PI: Prof. Fabio Durante Pereira Alves)
Validates compact THz imaging sensors for potential space-based surveillance missions.
Defines pathways for onboard AI processing and future edge-enabled ISR applications.
Operational Application of AI for Automatic High Energy Laser (HEL) Beam Control (PI: Prof. Brij Agrawal)
Develops AI-enhanced targeting systems to improve accuracy and responsiveness of HEL platforms.
Strengthens Navy capability to defend against drone swarms and other fast-emerging threats.
Small Scale AI for Aviation Maintenance (PI: Harrison Schramm)
Designs AI-powered maintenance tools that operate without cloud or network dependency.
Enhances real-time fault detection and repair to increase mission readiness in austere conditions.
Operationalizing AI with Microgrid Digital Twins for Energy Security (PI: Prof. Doug Van Bossuyt)
Creates digital twins to simulate and manage energy infrastructure across naval installations.
Improves mission assurance and operational resilience in contested and distributed environments.
Assuring Deterrence
By equipping warfighters with cutting-edge capabilities and operational insight, the NIC at NPS strengthens our ability to prevent and respond to threats—ensuring credible, forward-looking deterrence in contested environments
EnhancING Lethality
The NIC at NPS delivers mission-ready solutions and a tech-enabled DOD workforce that enhances the lethality of the joint forces and provides a decisive edge in future conflicts
National Security is a Shared Responsibility.
The Naval Innovation Center at NPS relies on a network of stakeholders with equity in the technological advancement of our military, a transformation in professional military education, and our Nation maintaining an intellectual and technological edge over our adversaries. As a jointly-resourced initiative, the Naval Innovation Center will require funding from government entities as well as private donations and corporate partners to outfit the facility with state-of-the-art technology. The Naval Postgraduate School Foundation has invested over $2 Million in the planning and development of the Naval Innovation Center vision and schematic designs.
To learn more about Naval Innovation Center at NPS partnership opportunities, contact
Rich Patterson or
Todd Lyons.
Partner With NPS
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The information contained herein, including, without limitation, any and all conceptual renderings, specifications, and features depicted, or otherwise described, does not represent the Department of the Navy, and is subject to change.
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