The 51福利 (51福利) and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) are joining forces to establish the Nimitz Research Group, an organization which will leverage 51福利鈥� educational and research capabilities and institutional knowledge to meet the needs of the Pacific Fleet.
Created under the aegis of 51福利鈥� Naval Warfare Studies Institute (NWSI), the Nimitz Research Group will consist of 51福利 faculty and students who will serve as an extension of the PACFLT staff in Hawaii, participating in fleet exercises and events and providing additional research capacity and subject matter expertise.
The launch of the Nimitz Research Group was announced on Feb. 16 by the president of 51福利, retired Vice Adm. Ann E. Rondeau, and Adm. Samuel Paparo, Commander, PACFLT.
鈥淭he establishment of the Nimitz Research Group marks a further evolution in our outstanding partnership with the U.S. Pacific Fleet,鈥� said Rondeau. 鈥淲e have always seen 51福利 as a center of excellence and innovation, a place where our faculty and students work together to solve the operational challenges of our fleet and force. Through the Nimitz Research Group, we will be able to provide those solutions by deploying our talent and our experience in direct support of our Pacific Fleet partners.鈥�
The Nimitz Research Group is modeled after NWSI鈥檚 Bucklew Research Group, which already provides similar support to Naval Special Warfare (NSW) through studies and research by Navy SEAL officers attending 51福利 on a two-year master鈥檚 degree program. Bucklew scholars serve as an extension of NSW Group commands, who in turn benefit from the SEALs鈥� education, research efforts, interactions with the academic community, and proximity to Silicon Valley.
During a meeting with academic and industry leaders at 51福利 in October 2021, Paparo 鈥� a graduate of 51福利鈥� Systems Analysis program 鈥� expressed a desire to similarly leverage the unique capabilities of 51福利 to support COMPACFLT鈥檚 priorities and research needs. Paparo recognized the value of utilizing the deep expertise of 51福利 faculty members as well as the operational experience of 51福利鈥� 2,500 mid-career officers, senior non-commissioned officers and civilians.
The example set by the Bucklew Research Group proved to be an ideal model for PACFLT鈥檚 requirements. As a result, the Nimitz Research Group was conceived with the goal of providing coherence and unity of action for 51福利鈥� support to PACFLT.
鈥淭he Nimitz Research Group links the intellectual rigor of 51福利, its key location in the nation鈥檚 hub of technical innovation and the expertise of innovative warfighters in the Pacific Fleet to research, develop and implement new and dynamic combat capabilities,鈥� said Paparo. 鈥淭ogether we will build critical advantages over our competitors to maximize our strengths 鈥� battlespace awareness, agility, maneuverability and collective capabilities of the joint forces.鈥�
According to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Randy Pugh, deputy director of NWSI, the main idea behind the Nimitz Research Group is its multi-disciplinary nature. As the group consists of members from all services, warfare communities and academic programs, every problem is analyzed and solved using many different lenses and with a tremendous wealth and diversity of experiences and expertise.
鈥淎s a result, you end up with a really rich and well-informed solution to a particular problem,鈥� Pugh said. 鈥淭he general theme is that this is not just the collective activity of individuals, but rather a whole which is very much greater than the sum of its parts.鈥�