The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport reached a major milestone in 2024, reporting a total funded program of $2 billion, according to its newly released economic impact report.
Of that total, $776 million went toward operational expenses, including civilian and military payroll, materials, and property maintenance. The remaining $1.2 billion funded contracts, with nearly $356 million awarded to small businesses. Impressively, 95% of those contract obligations were for services performed in Rhode Island, and 94% were competitively awarded.
“NUWC Division Newport continues to be an economic driver for our local communities, as well as throughout the state and the region,” said Technical Director Marie Bussiere. “This report underscores our commitment to warfighting readiness, workforce brilliance, and technical and business excellence.”
NUWC Newport’s workforce includes 51% government civilian employees, 48% support contractors, and 0.38% military staff. The majority of workers reside in Rhode Island (68%), followed by Massachusetts (23%) and Connecticut (4%). Of the full-time civilian workforce, 73% are scientists or engineers. The average civilian salary stands at $122,000.
STEM outreach efforts in 2024 included 12 programs and 31 partnerships, reaching more than 16,000 students from pre-K to grade 12. The division also supported 89 cooperative research agreements and 74 academic collaborations. Between 2020 and 2024, employees produced 162 patented inventions and published 176 technical papers.
Operating under the Navy Working Capital Fund model, Division Newport does not receive direct appropriations, instead earning funds from various “customers.” The Navy and Marine Corps led the way in 2024 with $982 million in funding. Other contributors included private industry, the Air Force, and fellow defense branches.
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