Marines Introduce AI Fellowship at Naval Postgrad School

Published Date : 16/08/2025 

U.S. Marines gather at the Naval Postgraduate School for a groundbreaking AI fellowship aimed at accelerating advanced AI research and building AI talent within the Marine Corps. 

MONTEREY, Calif. – U.S. Marines from across the service gathered at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) from August 11-14 to kick off the first artificial intelligence (AI) fellowship jointly hosted by the U.S. Marine Corps and NPS.

The pilot fellowship, tentatively titled the USMC-NPS AI Fellowship, is an initiative of the 2024 USMC AI Strategy. Its primary goal is to accelerate advanced AI research and build AI talent within the Marine Corps. NPS will provide fellows with tailored education on artificial intelligence, mentorship from faculty and industry experts, hands-on research experience, and the opportunity to develop an AI prototype inspired by a real-world challenge facing the fellow’s command.

“This fellowship leverages eager Marines knowledgeable about the fleet’s modern and relevant issues, faculty experts, state-of-the-art facilities at Naval Postgraduate School, and the incomputable potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning,” said Dr. Christopher Paul, U.S. Marine Corps Chair for Information at NPS and lead organizer of the program.

Over the next five months, AI fellows will split their time between NPS and their home commands before concluding the pilot program in January 2026. While this initial pilot focuses on developing AI talent within the Marine Corps, the fellowship hopes to include service members from other branches in future iterations.

“Our goal is to optimize AI’s application across the force,” Paul said. “To do that, we need to grow the AI-proficient and literate population in the military, which this fellowship aims to do.”

The USMC-NPS AI Fellowship is a significant step towards integrating cutting-edge technology into military operations. By fostering a deeper understanding of AI and its practical applications, the Marine Corps aims to enhance operational efficiency, decision-making, and overall combat readiness.

Information on future fellowship opportunities will be released via an administrative message. For inquiries on the pilot fellowship, contact Dr. Christopher Paul at christopher.e.paul@nps.edu or Marine Corps Capt. Christopher Clark, artificial intelligence lead for the Deputy Commandant for Information, Service Data Office, at christopher.d.clark.mil@usmc.mil. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the USMC-NPS AI Fellowship?

A: The USMC-NPS AI Fellowship is a program jointly hosted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Naval Postgraduate School. It aims to accelerate advanced AI research and build AI talent within the Marine Corps.

Q: What are the key components of the fellowship?

A: The fellowship includes tailored education on AI, mentorship from faculty and industry experts, hands-on research experience, and the development of an AI prototype based on real-world challenges.

Q: Who can apply for the fellowship?

A: Currently, the fellowship is open to U.S. Marines. Future iterations may include service members from other branches of the military.

Q: How long does the fellowship last?

A: The initial pilot program runs for five months, with fellows splitting their time between NPS and their home commands.

Q: What is the ultimate goal of the fellowship?

A: The ultimate goal is to optimize AI’s application across the Marine Corps, grow the AI-proficient and literate population in the military, and enhance operational efficiency and combat readiness. 

More Related Topics :