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Senior U.S. Navy officers visited the CU �鶹ӰԺ College of Engineering and Applied Science Thursday, highlighting a growing partnership that’s driving student success, leadership opportunities and career pathways.

Dean Bobby Braun welcomed  and to campus with tours of the new Aerospace Engineering Sciences building and the Engineering Center. 

The pair are visiting the Rocky Mountain region to see firsthand how the Navy has transformed its recruiting process and to meet with sailors involved in talent acquisition. CU �鶹ӰԺ and the college play a role in that process, as the Navy is interested in developing young leaders in close partnership with universities that produce high-quality science, technology, engineering and math students.

Both officers and their staff also met with faculty and students during the visit, including those in the university’s Naval ROTC program – a significant driver and example of that type of partnership between the two organizations.

“It was great opportunity to visit the University of Colorado to meet with ROTC midshipmen and see the campus. I’m impressed by the work being done by CU students in the field of engineering and applied science. Our partnership with the University of Colorado is a strong one, and I look forward to seeing our midshipmen become the Navy’s future leaders,” Nowell said.

Nowell assumed duties as the Navy’s 59th chief of naval personnel in the spring, serving concurrently as the deputy chief of naval operations. He is responsible for planning and organizing all manpower, personnel, training and education resources for the U.S. Navy and leads more than 26,000 professionals in the recruiting, talent management, training and development of Navy personnel. His responsibilities include overseeing Navy Recruiting Command, Navy Personnel Command and Naval Education and Training Command.

McLane is the commander of the Navy Recruiting Command. He previously served at the U.S. Naval Academy and was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army’s 354th Civil Affairs Brigade. He most recently served as the chief of staff for the Surface Forces Pacific. McLane visited the college and dean in 2018 as well.

William Doe, a college staff member and adviser for the campus Society of American Military Engineers chapter, said the visit pairs well with a number of other efforts by the college to engage with veteran and ROTC student groups on campus. 

“There is a high demand for technically competent officers in all of the military branches – especially from the STEM disciplines,” said Doe, an Army veteran. “That’s because future conflicts in this technical age will heavily use artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and autonomous systems, among other engineering disciplines.”