Navy Partnership Offers Students Scientific, Career Opportunities

The Department of the Navy signed an educational partnership with Ole Miss on Thursday (Aug. 28) to offer education, on-the-ground training and research opportunities for students while preparing them for critical national security career paths.

"This partnership will give our students a direct path into some of the most in-demand and impactful careers in science and national defense," said John Higginbotham, UM vice chancellor for research and economic development. "It's a great example of how university research and education align with real-world needs to produce graduates who are ready to lead from day one."

The agreement was signed with the commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, based at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County.

"Our collaboration with UM will strengthen the STEM talent-base in Mississippi and across the Gulf Coast so that our sailors get faster, more reliable environmental intelligence," said Jason R. McKenna, chief technology officer for CNMOC.

"The (agreement) work will focus on real missions: resilient sensing, edge processing, and decision support in contested communications that directly supports fleet readiness and national security."

The partnership will also offer multiple opportunities for students, said Leo Macelloni, director of the Mississippi Minerals Resource Institute.

"The U.S. Navy is one of the largest federal agencies in the country," he said. "While (it is) widely recognized for its sea defense capabilities, many are unaware that the Navy also plays a vital role in supporting cutting-edge basic and applied research, recruiting and training some of the brightest minds in the nation, and providing essential services such as cartography, weather forecasting and oceanographic data collection.

"Establishing a partnership between our university and such a large and multifaceted agency will open significant opportunities for both students and faculty to engage with real-world challenges and contribute to high-impact national initiatives."

The institute's marine division, the Center for Marine Resources and Environmental Technology, is well-suited for this work, he said.

"CMRET's core mission is to study the seafloor and assess the presence of critical minerals and energy resources that are strategic to national development and military readiness," Macelloni said.

"In pursuit of this mission, CMRET develops and tests innovative technologies for ocean exploration, specializes in the analysis of marine sediments and their geophysical properties, and is committed to training the next generation of ocean scientists and engineers."

The National Center for Physical Acoustics is also poised to help train Navy professionals, said Nathan Murray, NCPA director.

For underwater detection, scientists can't rely on light and must instead use sound as a mechanism to understand the terrain and potential threats. This makes the study of acoustics particularly relevant to underwater work, he said.

"The NCPA's research environment offers a unique experience in training physical scientists across multiple fields of study," Murray said. "In order to prepare students to graduate and be successful and productive at these jobs, we have to get the job engaged. That's what this partnership does."

"This partnership helps us prepare students for those real roles – starting on day one."

Through the educational partnership, Ole Miss students will be able to participate in real-world research projects, gain access to naval research equipment and learn from experts about the job of a physical scientist.

Aside from the physical sciences, students can choose from opportunities in engineering, communications, computer science, business administration and other fields, Macelloni said.

"In short, the partnership with the Navy has the potential to enrich nearly every area of study and provide our students with real-world, high-impact learning experiences that prepare them for leadership in both public and private sectors," he said.

And the Navy gets job candidates who not only have a degree but also have the hands-on experience to know how to use it, Murray said.

"This isn't just a win for Ole Miss," he said. "It's part of the Navy's effort to secure a highly trained, acoustics-savvy workforce in a field that affects global navigation, defense and commerce."

Top: Chancellor Glenn Boyce (sixth from left) gathers Thursday (Aug. 28) in Biloxi with university and the U.S. Navy officials to sign an agreement establishing an educational and research partnership between Ole Miss and the Navy. Also participating are Navy Rear Adm. Erin Acost (center) and Joe Calantoni (sixth from right), chief officer for CNMOC Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. Photo courtesy of CNMOC Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command