Graduates of the first Unmanned Maritime Systems Certification program from the University of Southern Mississippi received their certificates late last week in a ceremony marking the end of an unmanned systems demonstration in the Gulf of Mexico.

The class was created by the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, and the 15 graduates were presented their certificates by Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet, commander of the meteorological service.

John Meyer, deputy technical director for the command, said the program is the first of its kind in the country. It took about a year and a half to pull together, and more classes are planned. 

The first class was Tier 1, a one-semester program tailored for the novice. The second Tier 1 class is planned for next year. Beyond that, a Tier 2 class will consist of two full semesters and a summer, aimed at the “journeyman” student.

The Navy and MSU are also planned Tier 3, which would be specialized instruction to meet an “expert” level need. Meyer said that would probably mostly consist of civilian specialists.

The classes cover a variety of areas, including basic marine science, remote sensing data management and command and control. Meyer said MSU wants to expand it beyond military students and even offer it to international students in the future.

“We want the Navy to recognize the need for a program like this,” Meyer said.

The certificates were awarded at a technical demonstration in an aircraft hangar at the Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, which included a speech by Gov. Phil Bryant.

Bryant told the companies that had stands at the event that the students were present, and “if you’re hiring, there they are.”

Bryant also signed an executive order creating the state’s Ocean Task Force, which will develop a master plan and find key partnerships and resources to promote ocean science and technology in the state. It’s modeled on the federal Task Force Ocean, created by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson.