Written by:
1/3/2012 3:50 PM 

Naval Engineering – Aspiration or Necessity?

The newly released on-line issue of PRISM, the flagship publication of the American Society for Engineering Education, features an article titled, “Uncharted Waters”. If you have any interest in systems engineering, the future of our engineering workforce, the Navy, or our national defense - I recommend taking the time to read this article by Art Pine.

Summarized in the article is the evolution of the naval engineering landscape as seen through the eyes of the Navy and the researchers who support arguably the most important of the four National Naval Responsibilities outlined by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

“Not long ago, designing and building warships was a fairly straightforward affair. Hulls were made of steel. Sections of the ship were assembled as modules and welded into place, usually with electrical wiring and equipment already installed…These days, however, naval shipbuilding technology is leaving that model in its wake.”

Naval engineering is unique. Few other professions require such a broad range of multidisciplinary knowledge spanning areas of ship design tools, ship structural materials, hydrodynamics, advanced hull designs, ship propulsion, ship automation, and systems integration.

Why the shift from traditional shipbuilding to a broader, more collaborative, holistic skill-set? Many factors contribute but I would contend the following:

1. Complex Systems – As stated in the article, “Computerization and advances in equipment and materials are spawning complex, highly integrated systems that require the expertise of engineers in a wide variety of disciplines, not just the traditional shipbuilding-related fields.” There is no other complex system such as a warship. Given all the disciplines and complexities involved it is no surprise the Navy is pushing naval engineering.
2. Cost – Technology is not cheap and neither is maintenance and production. This is in direct conflict with a smaller Navy defense budget. As spending is more scrutinized, we need to be more flexible and creative.
3. Workforce – There is a well-documented need for systems engineers. Acquiring a skilled, multidisciplinary workforce will reduce shipbuilding costs in the long run and push innovation. In addition, the numbers demand (as will the Navy) we need more engineers and scientists to replace the eminent loss of knowledge
4. Building Science & Technology – whether it involves fuel, weaponry, or design, technology is making shipbuilding complex. A workforce with some exposure and understanding is better than none.
5. Maintaining our National Interests and Security – Arguably no other military presence displays force, power, and humanitarianism more than the US Navy – “A Global Force for Good”. It is my personal preference we keep it that way…if we don’t, someone else will.

As stated by Professor Ceccio, Director of NEEC, “Most of the really hard and interesting problems [in shipbuilding-related engineering] are at the boundaries…all the easy problems got solved a long time ago.”

We are at the boundaries and there is a lot of work to be done. We need to push STEM initiatives to engage students at a younger age and we need to push our plan of exposure and education at Naval Engineering Education Center. While some may dispute the necessity of naval engineering I contend it is essential to create naval engineers who will explore the boundaries. As I mentioned earlier, if we don’t do it, others will. 

Other Reading and Resources:

• Unchartered Waters was written by Art Pine - a Washington-based freelance writer and former Pentagon correspondent.
• Naval Engineering in the 21st century report
• Read the article, “Uncharted Waters”
• ONR definition of NNR

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Tags: ASEE , NEEC , Naval Engineering , Office of Naval Research

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Location: Blogs Naval Engineering Education Center (NEEC)

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