In an effort to get advanced technologies in the hands of warfighters faster, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona Division recently joined forces with the University of California San Diego through the signing of an education partnership agreement on April 17.
The agreement will enable Navy scientists and engineers at NSWC Corona to collaborate with students and faculty at UC San Diego’s renowned Jacobs School of Engineering, working together to solve complex naval problems with innovative engineering solutions.
“The challenges we will face as a nation are too complex to be solved in silos,” said Capt. Joseph Burgon, commanding officer of NSWC Corona. “The work we do will benefit the men and women in uniform who depend upon us to provide the technological edge they need to succeed and return home safely.”
This month’s signing builds upon an established history of collaboration between NSWC Corona and UC San Diego. More than 50 Triton students have joined NSWC Corona as interns or full-time employees, many starting their careers at the warfare center through the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program.
"The great engineering schools of the next decade will collaborate their way to relevance,” said Albert Pisano, dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering. “If you want to be great ten years from now, you have to find the right collaborators and work on relevant projects. That is what we do here."
The partnership unlocks several new ways for students and faculty at the Jacobs School of Engineering to engage with the Navy, including research experiences aimed at improving naval technology, access to the warfare center’s state-of-the-art facilities and federal laboratory, and expanded internship opportunities. For students heading into a competitive job market, partnering with NSWC Corona offers mentorship opportunities with seasoned STEM professionals as well as valuable exposure to cutting-edge technologies.
For NSWC Corona, the five-year partnership yields both short- and long-term benefits. Students and faculty will work side-by-side with Navy personnel to address the current needs of the Navy, lending their time and engineering expertise to the warfare center’s mission sets. This practical hands-on experience prepares students for future careers as Navy scientists and engineers – securing a robust Navy STEM talent pipeline ready for tomorrow’s challenges.
“Right now, your Navy is operating in an era of unprecedented technological velocity,” said Matthew Khalil, acting chief technology officer at NSWC Corona. “The Navy cannot rely on the technology of the past – nor can we innovate in a vacuum.”
The April 17 signing marks NSWC Corona’s 13th active education partnership agreement, expanding its existing network of 11 universities and two K-12 school districts.
NSWC Corona Division has provided analysis and assessment for the Navy since 1964. With expertise in gauging the Navy’s warfighting capability, NSWC Corona is a leader in data, analytics, visualizations, digital environments, engineering, and leveraging technology to bridge and integrate the Navy's data silos – enabling informed decision-making by the warfighter. With more than 4,000 scientists, engineers, Sailors, technicians, and support staff, NSWC Corona is located in Norco, California, with two California detachments in Fallbrook and Seal Beach and personnel in 14 additional locations.