Tennessee State University engineering students now have a chance to set sail on the high seas with training from the Naval Engineering Education Center (NEEC). A $1.6 million grant awarded to the University’s College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science will support the NEEC mission to educate and develop world-class naval systems engineers for the Navy’s civilian acquisition, engineering and science workforce.

Established by the United States Navy Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the NEEC consortium is a new initiative comprised of 15 colleges and universities.  “This consortium provides an opportunity for some of the nation’s best engineering colleges to collaborate in research and the production of engineers to address the future workforce challenges of the U.S. Navy,” said Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, dean of TSU’s College of Engineering, Technology and Computer Science.

“The NEEC will provide NAVSEA a pipeline of engineers in critical engineering career fields to address the challenges we face in building and sustaining the 21st century Navy,” said Brian Persons, NAVSEA executive director. “This is a huge step to help address Navy research and engineering development needs and challenges. It is the newest tool in NAVSEA’s Talent Management Strategy to develop, attract and retain the broader more capable workforce.”

The NEEC consortium aims to increase the number of students who graduate with an accredited degree; provide world-class faculty specialized in naval engineering; coordinate employee development opportunities to retain naval engineering talent for the Navy; and increase the availability of naval engineering education programs and courses across universities and colleges.

“As a member of the NEEC consortium, our college will play a critical role in meeting the diversity needs and technical challenges in energy systems, risk and cost analysis, and ship design methods,” added Hargrove.

The consortium will also include the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) and the Society of Naval Architects and Engineering (SNAME) as partners. The U.S. Navy Center for Innovation in Ship Design, located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, will also support the NEEC.