January 23, 2026
Pearl River Community College and the United States Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (NMOC) signed an Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA) on January 15 at the Hancock County Campus.
For 196 years, NMOC and its predecessors have provided military, scientific, and civilian communities with critical environmental information from the ocean floor to outer space.
The agreement aims to enhance PRCC students’ educational experience by connecting them with NMOC’s expert staff, unique facilities, and specialized technology resources related to oceanography and data science.
“We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Calantoni and Dr. McKenna in joining with PRCC through our Education Partnership Agreement (EPA),” said Dr. Amy Townsend, Dean of Career and Technical Education – Poplarville/Hancock. “This partnership will benefit current and future PRCC CTE students in our Hydrography Technology program, in particular, but also Automation & Controls, Industrial Electronics, and Electrical, with potential for further collaboration with other CTE programs.”
The hydrography technology program provides the hands-on skills to operate and maintain the essential high-tech equipment—from sonar to robotics—that is used to map the ocean floor, leading directly to stable, high-demand career opportunities in global shipping, offshore energy, and national security.
The partnership will support students and educators in several ways. NMOC can lend laboratory equipment, provide surplus materials, and assist with curriculum development. Laboratory personnel can serve as guest instructors or mentors for research projects, giving students hands-on experience. The agreement may also provide academic and career guidance for students exploring futures in environmental and scientific fields.
NMOC’s local presence at Stennis Space Center supports the Department of War with oceanographic data, predictions, forecasts, products and services. As the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Enterprise approaches its 50th anniversary of being onboard Stennis Space Center, its primary mission of sending civilian scientists, engineers, and technicians worldwide to perform oceanographic surveys critical to naval operations remains its foundation. The Enterprise’s partnership with PRCC ensures it can continue providing value to the U.S. Navy and the United States of America.
This agreement provides students with the invaluable opportunity to gain real-world experience with technology directly applicable to our operational systems. Those hands-on skills are in constant high demand, as our sea-going technicians and scientists are the backbone of our global oceanographic survey mission,” said Jason Pyron, the director of experimentation at NMOC.
PRCC’s Hydrography Technology program is a cornerstone of this agreement and stands as one of the few associate’s degree programs of its kind in the nation. This unique position as a regional center of excellence ensures that its graduates, who have a high job placement rate, are among the most sought-after technicians in the country. Other Career and Technical Education programs, such as Automation, Industrial Electronics, and Electrical, along with academic students, are also expected to benefit. Graduates with hydrographic skills are in high demand across the entire Gulf Coast blue economy. Opportunities abound in sectors such as offshore energy exploration, port and harbor security, coastal environmental management, and subsea telecommunications.
“Academic STEM students interested in Oceanography, Meteorology, or Data Engineering will also benefit from the EPA,” said Townsend “Being in close proximity to Stennis, our students will have access to many valuable resources and opportunities to interact with NMOC experts, leading to exciting career opportunities.”
The EPA highlights PRCC’s ongoing investment in student success and workforce development. As one of the few community colleges in Mississippi to establish an Education Partnership Agreement with the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, PRCC continues to lead in connecting education with industry and government partners for the benefit of its students and the region.
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Article by Laura O’Neill and Dr. Amy Townsend. Photography by Kaylee Fortenberry.
