Distinguished Visiting Professor (ONR Chair)

LOCATION:

United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD

APPLICATION TIMELINE:

This position does not have a specific application deadline. Review of applications will begin on June 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

ABOUT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY:

The United States Naval Academy is a unique institution of higher learning located in Annapolis, Maryland. As a service academy and premier undergraduate college, the United States Naval Academy  has its own distinctive niche amongst American higher education institutions. Our talented faculty and staff are united by a common purpose--to develop the next generation of officers to be exceptional  leaders in our naval service. 

Every year more than one million people tour "the Yard" to experience what our employees already know  — the United States Naval Academy is a special place, with a special purpose. Employees will find  challenging and rewarding work; state-of-the-art facilities which inspire academic and athletic excellence; the benefits of Federal employment; and exceptional quality-of-life.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The United States Naval Academy invites applications for the Office of Naval Research Distinguished Visiting Professor position to begin as early as summer 2026. This unique position, funded by the Office of Naval Research, seeks a scholar to explore the intersection of traditional academic disciplines with the evolving technological challenges of the naval service. This individual will serve as a liaison between ONR and USNA. Candidates should have a solid commitment to undergraduate teaching and to producing high-quality peer-reviewed research. This is an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to national security while advancing the boundaries of maritime engineering. Two broad areas of interest are seabed warfare and ship building.

Additional Information Pertaining to Areas of Interest: 

Seabed warfare, dimensions of which may include:

• Oceanography and Marine Science: Expertise in the ocean environment—its currents, acoustics, and geology—is crucial for predicting and influencing military operations on the seabed, especially as it applies to undersea surveillance.
• Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture: The design of underwater infrastructure and advanced submersibles are central to modern seabed operations.
• Robotics and Autonomous Systems: The development of intelligent, autonomous platforms is essential for future seabed warfare capabilities, including collaborative autonomy and artificial intelligence for tasks such as seabed mapping, infrastructure inspection, and object detection.
• Cybersecurity and Communications: The digital backbone of undersea communication is a critical vulnerability with challenges related to securing underwater data links and developing resilient communication networks.

Ship building, which encompasses:

• Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering:  Topics include performance and survivability as impacted by hull forms, propulsion systems, and materials science to build more efficient and resilient ships.
• Materials Science and Engineering: The performance of a vessel is intrinsically linked to the materials used in its construction, including cutting-edge composites, advanced alloys, and smart materials, to improve ship strength, reduce weight, and enhance corrosion resistance.
• Robotics and Automation: The future of shipbuilding relies on automation to improve efficiency, precision, and safety of robotics for tasks such as welding, assembly, and inspection. This also includes the integration of autonomous systems into shipyard operations.
• Operations Research: Shipbuilding is a complex logistical and planning challenge, requiring optimization, simulation and data analytics to improve shipyards and supply chains.

Duties and responsibilities: 

• Teach one or two sections per semester.
• Regularly meet with ONR program managers to foster USNA - ONR collaboration.
• Collaborate on research projects being executed by Naval Academy faculty and midshipmen.
• Facilitate connections between USNA subject matter experts and other efforts across industry and government.

This is an onsite, reimbursable funded, 12-month compensation model, excepted service federal faculty position. The anticipated term is approximately 2-years with the possibility of renewal for an additional term. The position comes with a highly competitive salary, and full federal benefits. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications, and constrained by support provided by the Office of Naval Research. The ability to fill this position is contingent upon the availability of funding.

Salary Details:  

• • Pay Band: AD-09 - Classification 14
•  
  • Approximate Starting Salary Range: $160,000  – $185,000 annually
    • Based on 12-month compensation model
•  
  • Final Salary: Will be determined based on:
    • Experience and qualifications of the selected candidate
    • Availability of funds from the Office of Naval Research

MINIMUM AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Minimum Qualifications:

•  A Ph.D. in Science or Engineering   *Required at time of application

• 3-years experience with seabed warfare, ship building or a closely related field

Preferred Qualifications (We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience or demonstrated interest in some or all of the following areas):

• Desire to work collaboratively with program managers at ONR and facilitate external partnerships
• A track record of scholarly work in support of national security
• Experience teaching undergraduate courses
• Interest in leading and mentoring undergraduate research projects

FINAL SELECTION FOR POSITION WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING ASSESSMENTS: 

• Presentation of the candidates research and scholarship program  
• On campus interviews
• Reference Check
• Executive level interview

HOW TO APPLY FOR POSITION:

Interested candidates should send application packages to the hiring manager and ONR Chair Search Committee, at onr-chair-search-2026-group@usna.edu.    

• Application Packages need to contain:
  • Cover Letter
    • Describe your research plan to advance Seabed warfare or ship building.
    • Please clearly indicate your status as a U.S. citizen in the cover letter, as this is required for the position.
  • 2-page Resume (we can only accept resumes up to two pages in length)
    • This document must be sufficient on its own to assess whether the applicant meets all “Required Minimum Qualifications.”
  • Contact information for three professional references 
  • Supplemental materials
    • Full List of scholarly products 
    • Any additional information candidate would like to submit

Candidates should also submit a response to the narrative questions found here. Please note you will need to include the announcement number listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Please note: This position does not have a specific application deadline. Review of applications will begin on June 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.  Additionally, the ability to fill this position is contingent upon the availability of funding.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Two-year trial period will typically be required.
• All civilian positions at USNA are subject to a background investigation. The selected candidate will be subject to a security investigation leading to successful completion of a background investigation with a favorable adjudication. The selectee's failure to meet this requirement will be grounds for termination. More information about the background investigation  process can be found at the Academic Dean and Provost’s website, https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Faculty-Information/Background-Investigation-Info.php. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The U.S. Naval Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer