14 Proceedings Spring 2025 research. This partnership includes proposing thesis questions for students and faculty to consider, seven of which are already complete. The partnership benefits NPS by offering students access to RDC researchers and Coast Guard research topics, while the RDC gains aca- demic work products that can delve deeper into areas of interest from the portfolio. Moreover, NPS has engaged with RDC researchers on satellite research, additive man- ufacturing, and even placed an NPS faculty researcher onboard the CGC Healy for the RDC’s Polar Research Technology Evaluation, an RDC-sponsored research effort. Annually, this partnership allows NPS faculty and administrators to be introduced to Coast Guard commands, leading to further research opportunities for the service. The MOU with the U.S. Space Force, signed by Dr. Joel Mozer, the director of science, technology, and research, is another notable partnership. This partnership has offered insights and lessons from the nation’s newest service, as Space Force senior scientists have partici- pated in the RDC’s Annual Assessment of Prospective Portfolio, providing valuable feedback on new research projects. The RDC sent an active-duty researcher to the Space Force to learn about the host agency’s priorities and focus with plans on an exchange the other way. The RDC is home to the service’s three autonomous vessels. An MOU was developed with three Navy com- mands to support maintenance and logistics. Naval Submarine Base New London (SUBASE), Navy Reserve Center New London, and Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 8 Detachment Groton, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, and Navy Reserve Expeditionary Maintenance Detachment New London are also parties to the MOU. The MOU solidifies the cooperation between the com- mands to provide for the temporary storage and main- tenance of the RDC’s three optionally crewed/uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) at the SUBASE. The USVs are the leading edge of the RDC’s autonomy research and encompass experimentation in areas from vessel control systems to new sensors, navigation systems, and state- of-the-art communications capabilities. For the sailors from SUBASE Port Operations, the MSRON, and the Reserve Expeditionary Maintenance Detachment, the opportunity has multiple benefits. “This cooperative effort not only provides our Navy Sailors with valuable training opportunities to sharpen their skills and maintain mission readiness across sev- eral platforms, but also to work with fellow sea service professionals in the Coast Guard,” said Cmdr. Drew Nilsson, commanding officer of Navy Reserve Center New London. “Additionally, it exposes them to experi- mental, cutting-edge systems and technologies that may be the standard in the future,” noted Cmdr. David Sigler, officer in charge of MSRON 8 Detachment Groton. Extragovernmental MOUs Lastly, the RDC employs MOUs with organizations out- side of government like university-affiliated research centers, or UARCs. One of these, which has led to a variety of efforts including cyber-focused research, is with Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland. This UARC is the largest in the nation with an 8,800-member technical staff. The MOU between the RDC and the American Bureau of Shipping is facilitating collaborative research on technologies impacting the maritime industry. This partnership covers various research areas, includ- ing remote and autonomous systems, advanced data analytics, cybersecurity, changing risks associated with the Marine Transportation System, and impacts of energy transition and alternative fuels. These collabora- tions, enabled by MOUs and the dedicated people behind them, have significantly expanded the RDC’s capabilities and resources, leading to new research opportunities and improved outcomes in critical research areas. Partnerships with DHS S&T and Polar Research Technology Evaluation The RDC maintains a robust partnership with the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (DHS S&T) Directorate, and its member labs. These collaborations span various projects, includ- ing autonomous vessel testing, counter-underwater uncrewed vessels with the Navy and proliferated low- Earth orbit satellite research. DHS S&T also supports the RDC’s efforts in recruiting from minority served institu- tions. For example, DHS S&T supported research from Texas Southern University to assist Coast Guard research on blockchain and its maritime applications. This part- nership resulted in a well-documented, academically CAPT Michael Chien, left, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Research and Development Center, and Bruce Baffer, senior vice president for global government services for the American Bureau of Shipping, met virtually on July 17, 2024, to review and sign a new memorandum of understanding to collaborate on technologies. Photo courtesy of American Bureau of Shipping
