Last week, Security & Defence PLuS (S&D+) — on behalf of the three PLuS Alliance universities (Arizona State University, King’s College London, and the University of New South Wales) — and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California signed a letter indicating our intent to pursue mutually advantageous partnership opportunities. The letter was signed by S&D+ Executive Director Brig Dr Ian Langford ADF (Ret’d) and retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, President of NPS.
This letter signifies a focus on pursuit of collaborative research, convening, and other partnership opportunities that are consistent with the aims of the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Collectively, the four universities bring significant expertise and capabilities to the table that support and advance both AUKUS Pillar 1 and Pillar 2:
- NPS brings broad and extensive expertise in systems engineering, national security affairs and Great Power Competition (GPC), cyber security, artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems, quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing, operational energy, logistics/maintenance/sustainment, defence industrial base foundations, coalition exercises, and several others. NPS also has experience conducting research in life-cycle sustainment of the Virginia-class submarine.
- S&D+ combines the three distinct academic traditions, cultures, and capabilities of the PLuS Alliance universities, whose research, innovation, and education programs are consistently rated among the top-performing globally. Collectively, the universities possess extensive expertise and capabilities in both the hard and social sciences, including (but not limited to) the fields of: nuclear engineering; mission engineering; hypersonics; quantum technologies; artificial intelligence; robotics and autonomous systems; cyber security; applied military history; competitive statecraft; global order and grand strategy; and defence policy, doctrine, and procurement.
S&D+ looks forward to further exploring and solidifying these opportunities for partnership with NPS in the coming months.