This is the third time the course has been offered, and since its inception, over 500 UTIC member employees have gained critical undersea tech skills.  The initiative comes as demand is growing for specialized technical talent across the undersea and maritime defense sectors.

“As undersea technology continues to rapidly evolve, expanding access to specialized education and technical training is essential to building a skilled, future-ready workforce,” said UTIC Chief Executive Officer Molly Donohue Magee. “Partnerships like this one with URI and RTX help ensure our member organizations have the knowledge, capabilities, and talent needed to support innovation, strengthen competitiveness, and advance the nation’s undersea mission.”

Led by Dr. John Short—a nationally recognized expert in sonar and undersea systems—the program provided valuable insights and knowledge transfer to both emerging professionals and longtime engineers. Dr. Short emphasized the importance of initiatives like this in sharing and advancing expertise across generations.

“This course represents more than professional development—it is an investment in the future of the undersea technology industry,” said Dr. John Short. “By combining fundamental principles with practical application, the program helps professionals strengthen technical expertise, apply new knowledge to real-world challenges, and build on both existing and emerging innovations.”

Principles of Sonar, Underwater Sound, and Undersea Systems is a graduate-level course focused on the fundamentals of sonar technology, underwater acoustics, and undersea systems engineering. The curriculum covers active and passive sonar design, acoustic modeling, ocean environment fundamentals, and practical applications such as performance estimation, system tradeoffs, and in-water testing. The course is expected to be offered again in Spring 2027.