The overall educational objective of the Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering program is to support the NPS mission by producing graduates who have knowledge and technical competence, at the advanced level in Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering, in support of national security. In order to achieve this goal, the specific objectives are to produce graduates who have:

• The ability to identify, formulate, and solve technical and engineering problems in Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering and related disciplines using the techniques, skills and tools of modern practice, including modeling and simulation. These problems may include issues of research, design, development, procurement, operation, maintenance or disposal of engineering components and systems for military applications.
  
  
• The ability to provide leadership in the specification of military requirements, in the organization and performance of research, design, testing, procurement and operation of technically advanced, militarily effective systems. The graduate must be able to interact with personnel from other services, industry, laboratories and academic institutions, and be able to understand the role that engineering and technology have in military operations, and in the broader national and global environment.
  
  
• The ability to communicate advanced technical information effectively in both oral and written form.
  
  

MAE - Historical Highlights

The Navy established a formal graduate education program in 1909 under SECNAV General Order No. 27.  Designated the School of Marine Engineering, the first commanding officer of the school (the official title was “head”) was Lt. Cmdr. M. E. Reed.

Ten students were in the first class:

1. Lt. Harry I. Brisner
2. Lt. Walter. B. Tardy
3. Lt. F. A. Yates
4. Lt. S. H. R. Doyle
5. Lt. James O. Richardson
6. Lt. Francis S. Whitten
7. Lt. Joseph O. Fisher
8. Lt. Samuel Murray Robinson
9. Ens. Otto J. Cox
10. Ens. A. T. Church.

Five of these officers achieved Flag rank:

• Adm. James O. Richardson was the first “NPS” alumnus to earn four-star rank.  He was Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet, before retiring.
• Vice Adm. Samuel Murray Robinson was presented the John Scott Award in 1942 for innovative work in warship design.
• Lt. Brisner and Ensigns Church and Cox were promoted to rear admiral.

Two of the officers in the first class returned to serve as head of the Naval Postgraduate School:

• Cmdr. Joseph O. Fisher was NPS head from 1921-1922.  Fisher earned the rank of captain before he retired in 1928.
• Capt. A. T. Church was NPS head from 1927-1931.  He earned the rank of rear admiral before he retired in 1943.