Center for Mission Engineering

08/31/2026

Portsmouth approves new approach to treat gun violence like a public health emergency: https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/portsmouth/portsmouth-approves-new-approach-to-treat-gun-violence-like-a-public-health-emergency
WTKR News 3, City of Portsmouth, VA Government

08/18/2026

07/06/2026

Innovation Never Stops!

07/03/2026

As we celebrate Independence Day this year, we are celebrating a historic milestone, America's 250th anniversary!

For 250 years, innovation, resilience and the pursuit of opportunity have shaped our nation's story. This Fourth of July, we honor those who came before us, celebrate the communities that continue to strengthen our country, and look forward to the future we will build together.

From all of the ODU OERI research centers, Happy 250th Independence Day, America!

05/25/2026

In memory of many, in honor of all.

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the courageous men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

10/08/2025

Our Executive Director, Dr. Thomas Irwin, had the pleasure of presenting a free webinar on Mission Engineering for the American Society of Naval Engineers - ASNE.

During the session, Dr. Irwin covered Mission Engineering’s baselining core competencies, architectures, roles, and knowledge areas. He also outlined how the Mission Engineering framework supports strategic planning, professional development, and recruitment.

In addition, he highlighted the foundational 2025 Mission Engineering Competencies Workshop, which focused on a new ME Competencies Framework and on building a shared understanding of the skills, roles, and workforce competencies essential to the practice of Mission Engineering across the U.S. Department of War, NASA, academia, industry, and allied partners. (ASNE's prestigious Naval Engineering Journal plans to publish a summary of the formal Workshop Report in a forthcoming Journal publication.)

The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants raised thoughtful questions and shared valuable perspectives.

To see the entire webinar, visit https://www.navalengineers.org/MissionEngineering1

MISSION FIRST, PEOPLE ALWAYS!

10/08/2025

Following the ME&I Workshop, Sept 23-26, five of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division participants took on five University of New South Wales (UNSW) representatives in the Inaugural International Mission Engineering and Integration Hackathon.

The teams had six hours to Mission Engineer a maritime response to a Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) scenario; Operation Pacific Shelter.

To foster allied innovation and deepen US-Australia mission engineering interoperability, this hackathon concluded with a joint presentation session co-hosted by UNSW Capability System Centre and the Old Dominion University Center for Mission Engineering.

During the Joint Showcase, the teams presented their solutions during a live, virtual joint session bringing together participants, mentors, and defense stakeholders from both nations.

The session aimed to surface comparative approaches, identify shared strengths and gaps, and promote ongoing trans-Pacific mission engineering collaboration.

The teams presented their solutions to the esteemed panel of judges: Commodore Andrew Macalister and Rachel Hatton from Australia, and Ms. Shawna McCreary SES (NSWC DD Technical Director) and Ms. Melissa Smith SSTM (NSWC DD M Dept Head).

In an extremely close contest, the NSWC DD team (The Dahlgren Dingoes) were selected as the winning team…. Congratulations, Dingoes!!

We cannot thank the judges, the participants, Braden McGrath, our UNSW ME partner and visionary; Grace Bryant, the lead planner for Australia; and Joseph Pack, the lead planner from NSWC DD, enough.

The next chapter will be to identify real-world challenges and rapidly identify partnered solutions in future International ME&I Hackathons….we are better together!!!

Mission First, People Always!!!

10/03/2025

Last week, CME held a Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Mission Engineering and Integration (ME&I) Workshop. Congratulations to the cohort for successfully completing the Workshop and reaching this milestone!

25 participants across multiple Departments truly reflected the interdisciplinary approach which is foundational to Mission Engineering. They organized themselves into teams that were productive, insightful, entertaining and delivered quality Mission Engineering products that both addressed the assignments and advanced their mission thinking.

In addition, we were honored to have United States Air Force Capt. Kavi Muraleetharan attend the Workshop, who was fully engaged and provided the Interservice perspective and knowledge that was game changing. He brought the event to another level…thank you Kavi!!

We’re looking forward to the next ME&I Workshop in the Spring. NSWC DD’s recognition of the importance of workforce development to advance and operationalize Mission Engineering across the Warfare Center is inspiring. We are so grateful for their leadership!

Immediately following the Workshop, some chosen reps from NSWC DD took on reps from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the Inaugural International Mission Engineering and Integration Hackathon. More on that to come!

MISSION FIRST, PEOPLE ALWAYS!

10/01/2025

FREE WEBINAR ON MISSION ENGINEERING COMPETENCIES
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ASNE and Old Dominion University’s Center for Mission Engineering are hosting a free webinar on Mission Engineering Competencies — the framework guiding how the Navy and defense community design, test, and deliver complex systems. This session will explore how mission engineering is driving more resilient operations, advancing workforce skills, and shaping the future of mission-driven innovation.

🎙 Featuring Thomas Irwin, PhD, Executive Director of ODU’s Center for Mission Engineering, a recognized leader in naval systems design and integration.

📅 Oct 7, 2025 • 1–2 PM ET
✅ Free | ✅ 1.0 PDH
🔗 Register today: www.navalengineers.org/Events/EventInfo/sessionaltcd/Eng2025

10/01/2025

The Center for Mission Engineering (CME) is collaborating with the American Society of Naval Engineers - ASNE's Education Division on Tuesday, 7 October for a FREE webinar on "Mission Engineering Competencies," a critical baseline presentation by CME Executive Director Thomas Irwin, PhD.

ASNE Education-in-Residence Michael Briscoe, Ph.D. will publish CME's foundational "Mission Engineering Competencies Workshop Report" summary in the Fall edition of ASNE's prestigious Naval Engineering Journal.

Free Webinar registration is required at https://www.navalengineers.org/Education/Misssion-Engineering.

We hope you can join us for this important presentation.