Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)’s Post

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) welcomed professionals from the operations research and analytics communities to campus for the 92nd Military Operations Research Society (MORS) Symposium, June 24-27, 2024. “I believe we are in a period of significant importance for the analytic community,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Douglas Sasse, Director, Assessment Division (OPNAV N81), during his remarks at the symposium’s kickoff session on June 25. “Most of us that have been in this business for a while have seen the weight decision-makers place on analysis ebb and flow over the years. From my viewpoint, we are seeing a resurgence in demand, and the analytic community needs to remain focused on answering the bell.” The symposium brought together more than 900 attendees from the military, government, industry and academia – mainly from the operations research (OR) field and many NPS graduates – to exchange information, examine research and discuss critical national security issues. “This is the best operations research department in the world. They set the standard for how others do it, and it's the only one that is uniquely focused on the military applications of operations research,” said retired U.S. Navy Capt. Arthur (Trip) Barber, a MORS fellow and 1979 NPS graduate. “It's kind of the Mecca that everyone comes back to when they want to know what the state of the art is, and the technology, and how to teach it.” • Read the full story at: https://lnkd.in/g5yNH2x5 • More about Operations Research at NPS: https://nps.edu/web/or US Navy | United States Marine Corps #usnavy #marines #professionaldevelopment #operationsresearch #defense #education

This week we are celebrating the #EtterAward Winners from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory! Mr. Trey J. Morris, Emergent Engineer Award Morris demonstrated leadership and excellence in developing the capability to use machine learning models and artificial intelligence algorithms to rapidly search vast ocean areas for surface vessels. This development has enabled analysts to quickly locate vessels at sea and classify them as merchant, combatant, potential smuggler or illegal fishing vessel in hours instead of days. Morris has been able to synthesize advances from the private sector and multiple academic fields to match them to the unique requirements and stressful workflows of the warfighter. His ability to integrate a broad set of critical science and technology efforts has enabled NRL to extend its legacy of scientific and technological achievements, and has resulted in groundbreaking intelligence and warfighting capabilities for the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/epVrVF9h #NavyResearch #ScienceWins #EtterAwards #NRL #people #partnerships #resiliency #revolutionize #innovation #innovate #STEM #usnavy #lab #education #scientist #laboratory #NRLresearch  #ScientificAdvancements #scientificresearch #FutureTech #research #engineering #engineers #science #technology

At the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation & Alumni Association, we recognize that students are the cornerstone of NPS, driving forward innovation and excellence. Their outstanding achievements not only reflect the values of our organization but also significantly contribute to #nationalsecurity and military operations. In this month's Faces of NPS: Information & Communication Technologies for Operational Readiness, we had the opportunity to showcase one of our students in the Information Professional (IP) Community. Lt.Cmdr. James Phan highlights the valuable experiences achieved by attending #NPS and why military services want to send their officers and NCOs to Naval Postgraduate School. "I think the most impactful experience since I’ve gotten to NPS has been interacting with other members of the Information Professional (IP) community that are in a similar point in their careers. We are a relatively small community of about 1,000 officers and there are approximately 35-40 IPs here at NPS. Learning what jobs they’ve done in the past can give me a lot of insight on where I might go next and how I can shape my academic curriculum to better prepare myself." Phan also emphasized the importance of investing in service members’ education to help with retention rates and alleviate the strain of increasingly demanding operational tempos. Graduate education offers a fresh perspective and alternative problem-solving approaches that prove invaluable upon returning to the Fleet and Force. Read Phan's full interview for more about his significant takeaways and the value of building connections with industry, academia and other military members: Read more: https://lnkd.in/eFs9c-uX #FacesofNPS #InformationProfessional #NavalPostgraduateSchool #operationalreadiness

"Through my work with Battlespace Simulations, Inc., alongside other companies such as Qualcomm, I have not only gained access to tools and knowledge but also potential connections with other organizations committed to enhancing our military capabilities. By opening the doors for students to reach out and connect with industry and other DOD organizations, the sky is truly the limit." U.S. Marine Corps Major Will Oblak, current Naval Postgraduate School student of Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation (MOVES). This month, our "Faces of NPS" newsletter features an interview with Oblak. He shares his work on developing innovative training environments that simulate contested scenarios. By integrating real-time data and advanced simulation techniques, his research aims to enhance the effectiveness of military training programs, preparing Marines for future challenges. Throughout his interview Oblak emphasizes the importance of collaboration, highlighting how partnerships with industry and DOD organizations accelerate technology adoption and drive innovation. "Industry leaders like #Qualcomm offer NPS a wealth of knowledge and access to cutting-edge technology. However, it is the people from these organizations who truly enhance the education at NPS. I have no doubt that as these partnerships continue to grow and mature, the aid and education my fellow NPS students receive from them will directly impact our ability to fight and win future wars." Read Oblak's full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eRfbVtix #BSI #Qualcomm #ModelingAndSimulation #NPS #IndustryPartnerships #MilitaryInnovation #NPSstudent #LVC

“I don't think I would have the job I have if it weren't for the work that I've done through the Acquisition Research Symposium to take these ideas, to think about them hard, to work with another person as a co-author or co-authors and put down ideas about what we should be doing differently about this work,” said Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RD&A) Nickolas Guertin.   Hear from Guertin, Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus, NPS students and other attendees in this video recap of the 21st annual Acquisition Research Symposium, hosted by NPS on May 8-9 in Monterey.   Each year, the Acquisition Research Symposium brings together experts from government, military, industry, and academia to explore the impact of defense acquisition on the delivery of innovative and necessary warfighting capabilities. It also provides a forum for NPS students to present their research on acquisition matters and offer improvements for the future.   - Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eHrEjRYF - More about ARP at NPS: https://lnkd.in/gFUcgXi - NPS Department of Defense Management: https://nps.edu/web/ddm US Navy | United States Marine Corps | Department of the Navy Research, Development, and Acquisition (RD&A) | Office of Naval Research | Acquisition Research Program at Naval Postgraduate School | Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition | Department of Defense Management at Naval Postgraduate School | Naval Warfare Studies Institute at Naval Postgraduate School #AcqnSymposium #acquisition #contracting

It's Sunday Somewhere? :) This weekend was too busy to finish the #drone paper I was working on. I'm excited to get it out, but - in the meantime - I want to ensure I provide something of substance. My next paper will analyze the #SouthChinaSea through the lens of what industrial standards say about #Turkey, #Iran, #Ukraine, and #Yemen. Consider this a worthwhile primer if you're not a Turkey expert. I wrote this piece in 2021 for the Cornell University Institute of Peace and Global Affairs, not knowing how salient it would be then. As a social scientist, technologist, and intelligence analyst, I'm glad I spent time learning about the region. Much has changed since then, but so much of what I learned in this paper allows me to understand today in a different light. I'll get the next paper out soon - until then, Turkey. Let me know what you think! #SundayRead #GeoPolitics #Technology and #Policy United States Department of Defense, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Office of the Director of National Intelligence, United States Marine Corps, US Army, US Navy, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), Joint Special Operations University, Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS), Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Intelligence University, Naval Postgraduate School, American Public University System, American Military University, Georgetown CCT I want to give special thanks to Dr. George Friedman, who gave me two quotes during a geopolitical talk he gave to Senior Enlisted #Marines while I was writing this.

MISSION, FUNCTIONS AND TASKS OF THE U.S. NAVAL WAR COLLEGE OPNAVINST 5450.207E 18 May 2021 https://lnkd.in/eyawHT5e Mission. The mission of NAVWARCOL is to:  a. Educate and Develop Leaders. ... b. Support Defining the Future Navy and Associated Roles and Missions. ... c. Support the Navy During an Era of Great Power Competition. ... d. Strengthen Global Maritime Partnerships. ... e. Promote Ethical Leadership Across the Force. ...

Absurd. CMOW, at least MSOC, changes the way Navy officers and senior SNCOs think. That’s education, not training. MSOC actually transforms tacticians into officers at the front end of being able to employ Operational Art with some agility atop newly learned ideas and approaches. When they hit the Fleets, many report that they often get crushed by 0-6s and FOs who have spent their entire career excelling at the tactical level within their tribe and are pejorative towards things like the NPP and how to wield it as a weapon. It seems, the author has no idea what CMOW does. If the author thinks that the JPME courses are delivering what Combatant Commanders need from graduates of the Naval War College, I think he is also off base. I also think the Navy doesn’t ask or, maybe until this CNO, doesn’t care. One, the Navy doesn’t select NWC attendees like the other services do. No tie to promotion or command. Rare follow on orders to a Joint Command or MOC in most cases. Thus, I conclude the US Navy Culture has an anti-education bias. Their certifications substantiate this. The warfare tribes don’t reward attendance. I got a Masters from the NWC. Rather happy about it. However, NWC was only of value to me because I came with planning experience, understood the OLOW, Joint Factors, Functions, and Principles. Not so for most Navy Officers. So, if the NWC wants to be a Masters Program, and a College like Brown, so be it. I hope not. The Naval WAR College must balance its curriculum by establishing a laser focus on Naval Warfare, balancing the theory of pure PhDs with the warfighting experience of well educated and degreed ‘Professors of Practice,’ and get the College on a war footing. Now.

📣 CALL FOR PROPOSALS 📣 The proposal window is now open for the 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit, scheduled for May 7-8, 2025. Deadline for paper and panel proposals is November 18. Learn more & submit proposals at www.researchsymposium.com. This year, the symposium is combined with an Innovation Summit under the overarching theme of "Transitioning Technology." The goal of this dual event is to explore and promote innovative ways to #transitiontechnology from research and development to programs of record to support the warfighter. The Innovation Summit will take place May 8, featuring panels designed to enhance understanding of current, past and future #innovation efforts across the defense innovation ecosystem. These panels will be composed of stakeholders from across academia, industry and government, bringing together diverse perspectives and areas of expertise. The Symposium is sponsored by the Acquisition Research Program at Naval Postgraduate School, Department of Defense Management at Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Warfare Studies Institute at Naval Postgraduate School, and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation & Alumni Association. #Acquisition #Collaboration #defenseindustry #innovationsummit

As we navigate the demands of work and strive to foster the next generation of naval engineers, I ponder the value of professional engagement and mentorship. Reflecting on my journey, I have a few questions for you: 1. Are you active in a professional organization? If so, what drives your participation? If not, what barriers hinder your investment in self-growth? 2. For mentors and managers, how do you unlock the potential in your mentees and employees, guiding them towards success? 3. Do you recognize the value of your team members? How do you demonstrate this daily, ensuring they thrive within your organization? 4. Naval engineers, how do you approach professional development for yourself and your team? Personally, as a naval engineer with a background in the U.S. Navy, I've found immense value in organizations like ASNE and SNAME. Networking and sharing insights with fellow professionals have enriched my career. Let's continue this dialogue. What's holding you back from engaging with a professional organization? I challenge you to ask yourself, “If not you, who?” Who is going to invest in your professional development and in your future replacements?” Get involved! Those that are involved, thank you! But, there is still more work to be done to promote civic engagement in our own professions and our communities. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get busy! #ASNE #SNAME #ODU #USNAVY