BlackSea Technologies Partners with U.S. Naval Academy to Advance Midshipman Education in Unmanned Systems
U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen visit BlackSea Technologies’ Headquarters in Baltimore, MD.
BALTIMORE — Sept. 19, 2025 — BlackSea Technologies announced a strategic partnership Friday with the U.S. Naval Academy to advance education, research and training in unmanned surface vehicle technologies. The collaboration aims to prepare the next generation of naval officers to lead the Navy’s hybrid fleet.
The partnership comes as unmanned systems are integrated into the Surface Warfare Officer career path. Through faculty research, Midshipman capstone projects and summer internships, BlackSea will provide direct engagement opportunities that connect academic study to real-world innovation.
“As unmanned systems reshape the operational environment, future officers must enter the fleet with both technical expertise and operational insight,” said Todd Greene, Deputy Director of Advanced Technology at BlackSea. “At BlackSea, we see this moment as an inflection point, just as significant as the birth of naval aviation. The future fleet will be a hybrid one where crewed and unmanned platforms operate as a cohesive team. Actively participating in the education of Midshipmen to prepare them for this new force structure is our honor and duty.”
The partnership builds on the Navy’s summer unmanned training initiative at Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadrons One and Three (USVRON 1 and USVRON 3) in Port Hueneme and San Diego, California where midshipmen trained with autonomy control software, payload integration and operational experimentation with Unmanned Surface Vessels, including BlackSea’s Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARCs) operated by USVRON 3.
Some Midshipmen earned “Blue Chip” assignments, securing future billets with the squadrons upon commissioning as Surface Warfare Officers.
BlackSea’s support to the Naval Academy ensures that midshipmen will not only observe but also contribute to the development and integration of unmanned technologies — equipping them with skills required to employ innovation in the fleet from day one.
About BlackSea Technologies
BlackSea Technologies pioneers autonomy solutions for maritime applications, delivering innovative systems that enable U.S. and allied naval forces to prevail in multi-domain conflicts. Headquartered in Baltimore, the company produces the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) and other unmanned vessels at the historic Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard.
About the U.S. Naval Academy
The U.S. Naval Academy educates and commissions officers with the leadership, technical proficiency and strategic vision required for 21st-century naval warfare.
For more information, visit www.BlackSea.Tech and follow the company on LinkedIn
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