Our Comparative Advantage

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has robust research and innovation programs. The research programs support graduate education by providing militarily relevant thesis topics that address issues from the current needs of the fleet and joint forces to the science and technology required to sustain long-term superiority of the Navy/DOD. Research varies from the fundamental to the applied and covers all levels of classification. Annually, research is aligned to top priority naval needs per Program Area detailed by Naval leadership in the fleet and force strategies. NPS currently has nine academic "Warfighter Development" program areas, aligned to ten "Warfighting Development" research program areas.

Warfighter Development

Critical and strategic thinkers able to problem-solve, adapt, innovate, and lead

Naval Engineering
Combat Systems
Cyber and Information Systems
Data Science and Decisions
Global Security and Strategic Competition
Defense Systems Management
Space Technology and Operations
Maritime Battlespace Environments
Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization
Naval Engineering Image
Warfighting Development

Classified and applied research and innovative solutions

Counter-C5ISRT
Long Range Fires
Terminal Defense
Contested Logistics
Non-Traditional Sea Denial/MDA
Artificial Intelligence
Robotic Autonomous Systems
Navy Operational Architecture
Live, Virtual & Constructive/GEMS/M&S
Energy Security