USI and NSWC Crane partner to enhance STEM and business education for students

The University of Southern Indiana and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) are partnering to provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and business management opportunities for USI students. The partnership continues a long-time relationship between the two entities. Under the new Education Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in a ceremony on Monday, March 24, both organizations will share resources to empower future STEM leaders.

The EPA provides USI students with access to NSWC Crane’s expertise in STEM and business fields. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world applications in STEM.

"This partnership between the University of Southern Indiana and NSWC Crane represents our ongoing commitment to work together to provide USI students with resources, hands-on experiences, and real-world applications in science, engineering and business,” said Steven J. Bridges, Interim President, USI. “With access to Crane technologies and resources and the ability to work alongside experts in the field, our students will gain invaluable insights and skills that will prepare them for future careers. We are excited about the opportunities this ongoing collaboration brings to our University community."

NSWC Crane is a national leader in electromagnetic warfare, strategic missions and expeditionary warfare, which provide the U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of Defense a wide variety of technology and platforms across science and engineering disciplines. USI is committed to providing high-quality education including the areas of STEM and business. NSWC Crane will provide students with access to its state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, mentorship and research projects.

"The partnership with USI is critical to our regional innovation ecosystem, as their team of educators has been instrumental in supporting NSWC Crane's STEM initiatives for our 38 K-12 school EPA partners in surrounding towns and cities over the past 18 years,” said Maria Duran, the Technology Transfer Director at NSWC Crane. “Our shared commitment to advancing STEM opportunities elevates the pipeline of skilled technical professionals needed to address the present and future challenges of our warfighters.”

USI students will gain invaluable hands-on experience and access to the state’s only federal laboratory. They will also learn about national security and specialized technology focus areas.

USI and NSWC Crane have operated under a Memorandum of Understanding since 2007 and a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) since 2009. In 2018, NSWC Crane and USI signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to study chemical reactions including the chemical outputs of special munitions and pyrotechnic reactions.

“This partnership can inspire a new generation of skilled professionals in STEM fields that are critical to national security and technological advancement,” said Dr. Angela Lewis (SES), the Technical Director at NSWC Crane. “Partnering with USI strengthens the talent pipeline for NSWC Crane and other organizations seeking highly qualified individuals in STEM fields and provides students with a unique educational experience where they can take lessons learned and apply to their future careers.”

About NSWC Crane
NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electromagnetic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi-spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.