Dean Katers – US Navy Training Program

John Katers, Dean of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET) was recently invited by the US Navy to participate in an Educator Orientation Visit (EOV) in San Diego, CA, as part of the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC).  This was only the third such EOV since COVID, with the eleven other participants in this EOV representing Cedarville University, Drexel, Old Dominion University, Tennessee-Chattanooga, the University of Houston, the University of Idaho, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Washington, Vanderbilt, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.  During the EOV, Katers had the opportunity to tour the US Navy Training facility, the USS George Washington (aircraft carrier), and the USS Alexandria (Los Angeles class nuclear-powered attack submarine).  The EOV culminated with an embark on the USS Louisiana (Ohio class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine) off the coast of San Diego, including a climb to periscope level outside the submarine while at sea and the opportunity to crawl inside a torpedo tube.  The benefits available through NUPOC for qualified students are outstanding and this was a truly remarkable learning experience for all that participated.