SMU to conduct research for Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU, on behalf of the University’s AT&T Center for Virtualization, has executed a Navy Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific). The research facility in San Diego provides the U.S Navy and military with essential capabilities in the areas of command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber and space.
The initial phase of the agreement extends from November 1, 2020 to September 30, 2024 and is designed to produce methodologies for improving readiness and mission success for defense platforms and systems. Jerrell Stracener, senior research associate in SMU’s AT&T Center for Virtualization, is principal investigator.
“This agreement will foster a very significant partnership between NIWC Pacific and the SMU AT&T Center for Virtualization”, said Suku Nair, director of the center and a University Distinguished Professor in the Lyle School of Engineering. The SMU Center will lead research and development of methodology, he said, while NIWC Pacific will lead the application of developed methodology to Navy platforms, and Command & Control and Enterprise systems.
SMU will benefit from NIWC Pacific’s access to technical data, Nair said, and NIWC Pacific will benefit from SMU’s expertise in virtualization technologies including Enterprise and Telecom Virtualization, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), Cyber Security, and in application of reliability, supportability, and cyber security to defense systems. NIWC Pacific will also gain improved access to Dallas/Fort Worth defense contractors including Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Bell Textron, Boeing, and Elbit.
As a result of the agreement, SMU students trained in data science, statistical science, computer science, software engineering, cyber security and Systems Engineering will be well-positioned for recruitment opportunities in careers supporting Department of Defense initiatives.
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