Central Coast Joins NavalX Community of Emerging Tech Centers

(Contributed)

May 12, 2020 — Monterey, CA

Monterey C2 Tech Bridge will benefit from proximity to the Naval Postgraduate School and Silicon Valley

In an significant expansion of the Navy’s innovative approach to rapid acquisition and tech evolution, the organization announced plans to open a new Central Coast (C2) NavalX Tech Bridge, as one of six new locations set to rollout today.

Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Associate Dean of Research for Technology Development CWO4 Christopher Manuel, an NPS alumnus, will serve as director of the C2 Tech Bridge which will be managed under the umbrella of the university’s new Emerging Technology Center (ETC). 

“The Central Coast Tech Bridge is the front door for entrepreneurs to work with the Navy and DoD on technology solutions,” said Manuel. “Our partnership with the Naval Postgraduate School provides access to expert faculty and experienced military students who understand operational challenges and eager to work with business to solve research challenges. The C2 Tech Bridge will facilitate growth of public/private partnerships and dual-use technologies.”

NavalX, established by the Navy in February 2019, initially formed six Tech Bridges across the nation to act as “super connectors” focused on scaling non-traditional agility methods across the DON workforce. Tech Bridges are developed in locations where there is an opportunity to capitalize on a regional strength with applicability to Navy challenges and issues. For the Central Coast Tech Bridge, that “sweet spot” resides in its access to Naval Postgraduate School students and faculty, and its proximity to the Silicon Valley. 

As the DOD’s premier educational institution on the West Coast, NPS supports a full spectrum of graduate level research across the STEM disciplines and beyond. Through the expanded networks provided by the C2 Tech Bridge and the full cadre of NavalX Tech Bridges, Navy leaders hope to further leverage the intellectual resources of NPS to address key operational requirements. Within the university’s student population, every U.S. uniformed service is represented across the full range of warfighting specialties, providing a unique level of expertise. Additionally, C2 will bring in to access to expertise from research and education institutions around the Peninsula and into Silicon Valley as well. 

Manuel’s career both in service and beyond will be highly beneficial to the Tech Bridge philosophy, having initiated two start-up tech companies in addition to his experience with Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) as Corporate Vice President for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Networks (C4N). Manuel is currently a Research Fellow with the Army Cyber Institute at West Point, under the U.S. Army Reserves Cyber Protection Brigade (ARCPB). 

Once operational, the C2 Tech Bridge will also directly support NPS’ new Applied Design for Innovation curriculum, a ground-breaking approach to support the full cycle of innovation, from ideation to adoption. 

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