The University of New Orleans ocean acoustics program at the Stennis Space Center, Mississippi

Abstract

In the late 1970's two US Navy ocean R&D organizations were formed and located at the Stennis Space Center (SSC), Mississippi, located approximately 50 miles East of the University of New Orleans (UNO). These two organizations employed nearly 1500 scientists, engineers, and technicians. Many of those with a Bachelor degree in physics, oceanography, or engineering desired advanced training in acoustics and signal processing. In 1982, George E. Ioup took the initiative to have UNO develop and teach acoustic courses on-site at the SSC. In the following 33 years, I developed 11 different graduate level courses in acoustics and taught them multiple times at the SSC. It was possible to take all the necessary courses needed for the Masters and PhD degrees on-site, while maintaining full-time employment. Several dozen Navy scientists received advanced degrees in physics with a specialty in acoustics from UNO. Many more received specific training in acoustics that enhanced their professional careers. This presentation will highlight my contribution to the UNO program at the SSC, and discuss how I incorporated my own research in ocean acoustic propagation and scattering into the many acoustic courses that I taught.