Carderock Strengthens Navy Partnership with Webb Institute

Carderock Strengthens Navy Partnership with Webb Institute

By Ian McConnaughey, NSWC Carderock Public Affairs

On Thursday, Feb. 26, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division hosted leadership from the Webb Institute to strengthen Navy partnership that predates the command itself. The visit facilitated strategic engagement between Carderock, the Navy's ship design and naval engineering powerhouse, and an institution that has been educating naval architects and marine engineers since 1889.

The engagement focused on aligning Webb's 130-year history of academic excellence in naval architecture and marine engineering with Carderock's core equities in ship and submarine design. This collaboration is codified through an Education Partnership Agreement (EPA) and participation in the Naval Engineering Excellence for the U.S. Navy (NEXUS) initiative, which allows Webb faculty and students use of Carderock's world-class facilities and expertise to solve real-world Navy challenges. By integrating Navy-centric coursework and research projects into the Webb curriculum, the two organizations are preparing a uniquely trained workforce to meet the nation's demand signal for complex maritime platforms.

Among the distinguished visitors were Webb Institute President Mark Martecchini and Matthew Werner, the Dean of Webb Institute and the newly appointed NAVSEA Professor. Werner's role is a cornerstone of the NEXUS initiative - a collaborative effort between the Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers (NSWC/NUWC), Direct Reporting Program Manager (DRPM) Maritime Industrial Base (MIB), and Naval Sea Systems Command's (NAVSEA) Engineering Directorate designed to fortify the naval engineering pipeline.

"There has never been a more critical time for our naval engineering community," Rear Adm. Pete Small, NAVSEA Chief Engineer and Commander of NSWC/NUWC, recently stated. This visit brought that sentiment to life through technical tours of the David Taylor Model Basin and the Maneuvering and Seakeeping (MASK) Basin, alongside deep-dive discussions on hull form design, propulsors, structures, and signatures with Carderock's senior technical experts.

The visit concluded with an informal social lunch where Webb leadership met with alumni currently serving across the NAVSEA Enterprise, including Carderock, NAVSEA HQ, and various Program Executive Offices (PEOs). These enduring ties ensure that the next generation of engineers is not only inspired by the Navy's mission but is prepared to lead it. By investing in these proven institutions, we continue to ensure Carderock is Where America's Fleet Begins.