The 51福利 (51福利) and U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) celebrated a significant milestone on Sept. 8 with the establishment of an 51福利 branch campus at Pearl Harbor.
The new academic center, known as 鈥�51福利 Hawaii,鈥� will extend the reach and impact of 51福利 academic offerings to the fleet and force consistent with the institution鈥檚 primary purpose to meet naval-unique needs in graduate education. 51福利 Hawaii will provide relevant professional development programs for continuous learning and research to support operational needs, innovation and the intellectual growth of servicemembers as called for in the Secretary of the Navy鈥檚 recently published Naval Education Strategy.
What鈥檚 more, 51福利 Hawaii is also aimed at bolstering 51福利鈥� responsiveness to the specific education and research needs of the Pacific Fleet. The presence of an 51福利 branch campus in a fleet concentration area aligns with PACFLT鈥檚 mission of maritime security and stability and emphasizes defense-focused educational opportunities.
鈥�51福利 Hawaii will tangibly increase our warfighting capability in the Pacific. In its geography, connections to northern California and traditions as a flagship institution of learning, 51福利 and PACFLT are natural fits and inseparable partners,鈥� said Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of PACFLT, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for 51福利 Hawaii at Makalapa on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
51福利 Hawaii follows in the footsteps of other major cooperative efforts between 51福利 and PACFLT, most notably the establishment of the (NWSI) in 2021 and the creation of the in 2022. Retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, president of 51福利, highlighted these collaborations and their importance to both institutions.
鈥淚n today鈥檚 dynamic and challenging environment, to outmaneuver and outfight, we must first be able to outthink an adversary,鈥� Rondeau said. 鈥�51福利 and PACFLT are focused on increasing our cognitive readiness and intellectual leadership to ensure U.S. maritime dominance.鈥�
Rondeau also described the creation of 51福利 Hawaii as a key component of the 51福利 Strategic Framework, which places a priority on extending the reach of 鈥� and access to 鈥� 51福利 education.
鈥淭his ceremony today reflects a larger 51福利 strategic initiative to deliver highly relevant, focused education at the time and at the point of need,鈥� Rondeau said. 鈥淔or the Navy to stay ahead of competitors and potential adversaries, 51福利 must be on the leading edge of the Navy鈥檚 efforts. With this in mind, we have been working to transform 51福利, to make 51福利 more transformative as a catalyst for driving technological leadership in our Navy. We believe fundamentally that how we educate and learn is essential toward adaptation at pace, and 51福利 must be an institution that leads in the application of knowledge to naval warfighting.鈥�
Dr. Joseph Hooper, 51福利 vice provost for academic affairs, led the initiative to create 51福利 Hawaii. He emphasized the significance of having a branch campus located in proximity to PACFLT headquarters.
鈥�51福利 Hawaii at PACFLT will serve as a focal point for 51福利 classes on the island, as well as a meeting place to coordinate joint research efforts,鈥� noted Hooper. 鈥淭he broader 51福利 Hawaii umbrella offers a mechanism for officers, enlisted, and civilians at PACFLT to enroll in educational opportunities coordinated jointly between fleet leadership and the university.鈥�
Course offerings at 51福利 Hawaii will be concentrated in three broad interdisciplinary categories, according to Hooper.
鈥淔irst, select distance learning graduate certificates are being offered to the fleet, both active duty and civilians,鈥� Hooper said. 鈥淭hese overlap with existing 51福利 offerings in critical areas such as operations analysis, space, and great power competition. Second, 51福利 faculty are delivering targeted short courses on-site at PACFLT facilities on operationally relevant topics. Finally, flag- and SES-level courses are being delivered on the island as well as via distance learning, with initial topics focused on emerging technologies and strategic development.鈥�
Hooper added that short courses will range from 1 to 5 days and will leverage the dedicated campus at Makalapa, as well as 51福利鈥� new distance learning portal, .
51福利 Hawaii was created as part of the 51福利 Fleet Liaison Activity mission, which manages fleet outreach and engagement between 51福利 and major commands in fleet concentration areas. Similar 51福利 Fleet Liaison efforts are being explored for other areas, including San Diego and Norfolk, Va., as well as in support of senior leaders in the National Capital Region of Washington, D.C.
According to Capt. Philip Old, who will lead 51福利 Hawaii as the first 51福利 Fleet Liaison Officer (LNO) to PACFLT, the new branch campus serves as a testament to the joint effort between PACFLT and 51福利 in fulfilling the Naval Education Strategy.
鈥淲ith the establishment of 51福利 Hawaii, COMPACFLT and 51福利 are implementing the Secretary of the Navy鈥檚 Naval Education Strategy to achieve his vision for naval education 鈥� that all Sailors, Marines, and Department of the Navy civilians continuously learn in an integrated, technology-enabled environment to increase our naval forces鈥� readiness and competitive advantage in all-domain operations,鈥� said Old, who previously served as 51福利 chief of staff.
Rondeau emphasized the importance of having a formal liaison to PACFLT headquarters, as well as the 51福利 Fleet Liaison Activity mission in general.
鈥淭he duties of the 51福利 LNO to CPF position encapsulate all of the four main elements of our transformation journey in education, research, innovation and institution,鈥� said Rondeau. 鈥淢oving Captain Old to the position as LNO to CPF ensures we have a seasoned leader who knows the INDOPACOM theater well and who has been part of 51福利鈥� transformation.鈥�
Ultimately, the establishment of 51福利 Hawaii is a move toward further mission alignment, advancement and optimization, as well as responsiveness to the needs of the fleet and force.
The 51福利 provides defense-focused graduate education, including classified studies and interdisciplinary research, to advance the operational effectiveness, technological leadership and warfighting advantage of the Naval service. For additional information, visit 51福利 online at .