By MC2 Michael Ehrlich

Consortium for Robotics and Unmanned Systems Education and Research Director Dr. Ray Buettner, left, and NPS Acting Provost Dr. Jim Newman, right, stand beside a ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on display in the Marriott Hotel Monterey, Oct. 23, during the Monterey County Business Council's Higher Education Leadership Summit. Buettner was on hand to brief attendees on some of the university's latest research efforts, in addition to NPS' continuing partnerships with institutions of higher education around the Peninsula.

Buettner's presentation shed light on varied aspects of unmanned aerial vehicle research at NPS, and discussed how the Joint Interagency Field Experimentation program (JIFX) and CRUSER support the Peninsula's academic communities.

"[The MCBC summit] is an excellent opportunity for us to help the public, who we work for and support, understand the unique role and mission of the Naval Postgraduate School," said Buettner.

"While militarily focused, NPS is a full spectrum university engaged in a variety of activities that make us natural partners with CSUMB, MIIS and other educational entities on the Peninsula," he added. "We can work together with the community to create a capability that can serve all of our citizens."