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Provost highlights 30+ new warfighting-focused classes and dozens of AI and autonomy Capstone projects
Summary
Provost Dr. Samara Firebaugh told the Board the Academy added 30+ warfighting-centered courses for AY2026 and previewed Capstone Day, with large numbers of projects on AI, robotics, shipbuilding and cyber.
Dr. Samara Firebaugh, Academic Dean and Provost, told the Board of Visitors that the Naval Academy expanded warfighting-centered academic offerings for academic year 2026, adding more than 30 courses focused on warfighting applications.
She cited new classes including Machine Learning for Electronic & Acoustic Warfare, Wargame Theory, The Chinese Art of War and a renewed interest in naval architecture, noting the Academy produces about 10% of the nation's naval architecture graduates. Firebaugh said civilian faculty are receiving operationally relevant training — threat briefs at both controlled unclassified and classified levels, visits to Norfolk and Quantico, mid-day training opportunities and collaboration with Fleet organizations such as the Board of Inspection and Survey and Navy cryptologic and submarine commands.
Firebaugh previewed Capstone Day on April 29. She said 127 projects relate to AI, data science or machine learning; 64 involve drones, robotics or autonomous systems; 50 are related to shipbuilding or the defense industrial base; 80 address cybersecurity; 59 focus on energy security or contested logistics; and 41 concern Great Power Competition topics such as China, Russia or Iran.
Two first-class midshipmen summarized Capstone projects for the Board. Midshipman Andrew Galvan-Arrien presented work on neural networks and edge detection applied to maritime sea-sky line identification conducted for the Secretary of War's Strategic Capabilities Office; he told the Board the office was responsive to midshipman questions. Midshipman Nicholas Ciaccio presented a study of one-way drone attacks on surface ships using World War II Okinawa kamikaze cases and reported that success rates were higher when attackers used skillful approaches guided by terrain and when attackers employed massed assaults up to a threshold.
Provost Firebaugh said the Capstone program demonstrates applied, mission-oriented student research and underscores the Academy's shift toward curriculum that supports modern warfighting demands. Capstone Day and continued faculty–fleet partnerships will be used to inform future curricular priorities.
