Faculty
Alexander W. Laun, PhD, PE
Assistant Professor of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
- Phone: 410-293-6449
- Fax: 410-293-2219
- E-Mail: laun@usna.edu
- 351 Rickover Hall
Research Interests
Tow-Tank Testing/Experimentation; Submarine Design/Operations; Uncrewed Maritime Systems (UMS); Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Design/Operations; Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) Design; Autonomous/Networked Maritime Systems; Additive Manufacturing; Naval Applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI); Biofouling; Biomimetic/Biologically-Inspired Robotic Systems; Systems Engineering; Modeling and Simulation; Data Architectures; Data Models; Data Science; Resilience Engineering; Naval Nuclear Propulsion; Renewable Energy Technology/Systems; Spacecraft Design/Operations; National Security Budgeting/Policy
Education & Training
- PhD, Systems Engineering, The George Washington University (GWU), 2022
- Prospective Nuclear Engineer Officer (PNEO) Course, Norfolk, VA, 2016
- Submarine Officer Basic Course (SOBC), Groton, CT, 2014
- Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU), Charleston, SC, 2014
- Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC), Charleston, SC, 2013
- MS, Ocean Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2013
- MS, Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2013
- BS, Naval Architecture (Minor in Russian), United States Naval Academy (USNA), 2011
Professional Experience
- Faculty (Civilian), USNA Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering Department
- Assistant Professor of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, December 2021 - Present
- Instructor of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, July 2021 - December 2021
- Supervisory Naval Architect (Branch Head), Staff (Civilian), Naval Academy Hydromechanics Laboratory (NAHL), Annapolis, MD, 2019 - 2021
- Instructor / Senior Instructor, Faculty (Military), USNA Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering Department, 2017 - 2019
- Submarine Warfare Officer, USS JOHN WARNER (SSN 785), Norfolk, VA, 2014 - 2017
- Ship's Diving Officer
- Assistant Engineer Officer (AENG)
- Damage Control Assistant (DCA)
- Reactor Control Assistant (RCA)
- Plankowner (PCU JOHN WARNER)
- Draper Laboratory Fellow (DLF), The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. (CSDL), United States Navy Immediate Graduate Education Program (IGEP), Cambridge, MA, 2011 - 2013
- Summer Intern, MARA Program, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 2010
- Summer Intern, PM C4ISR OTM Program, United States Army RDECOM, Fort Dix, NJ, 2008
Professional Memberships & Registration
- Professional Engineer (PE), Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, Maryland Board for Professional Engineers, 2018 - Present
- Qualified Nuclear Engineer Officer, United States Department of Energy (Naval Reactors), 2016
- Qualified Submarine Warfare Officer (1120), United States Navy, 2015
- Member, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
- Member, American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE)
- Member, Marine Technology Society (MTS)
- Member, International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
- Member, Resilience Engineering Association (REA)
- Member, United States Naval Institute (USNI)
Awards
- Apgar Award for Excellence in Teaching Nominee, Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering Department, USNA, 2019
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, 2019
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Two Awards)
- William M. Kennedy Scholarship, SNAME, 2011
- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Distinguished Midshipmen Graduate, USNA, 2011
- Admiral Frank Bowman Scholar, USNA, 2011
- American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Prize, USNA, 2011
- The Captain Leland D. Whitgrove Award for Excellence in Naval Architecture, USNA, 2011
- Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Midshipman Research Project Award, USNA, 2011
- Naval Architecture Design Project Award, USNA, 2011
Professional & Community Service
- Panel Chair, Hull Form Design (SD-10) Panel, Ship Design Committee, The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), 2019 - Present
- Associate Editor (Combat & Weapon Systems), Naval Engineers Journal, American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), 2019 - Present
- Academic Advisor (ENM Major), USNA Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering Department
- Plebe Academic Advisor, USNA School of Engineering & Weapons
- Mentor / Program Advisor, USNA Officer Scholarship Program (OSP)
- Mentor / Small Group Leader, USNA Senior United Kingdom & International Scholarship Program (SUKISP)
- Assistant Group Leader, USNA Autonomous System Working Group (ASWG)
- Director, USNA Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Laboratory
- Equipment Custodian, USNA Ocean Technology Laboratory (OTL)
- Mentor, USNA Submarine Warfare Community
- Mentor, Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences (PGSS)
Teaching Experience & Courses
- EN247, Principles of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (Fall 2021*, Fall 2022*)
- EN342, Ship Hydrostatics and Stability (Spring 2022*)
- EN353, Resistance and Propulsion (Spring 2023*)
- EN358, Ship Structures (Spring 2018*)
- EN400, Principles of Ship Performance (Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019)
- EN447, Autonomous Vessel Design (Fall 2017*, Fall 2018*)
- EN448, Autonomous Vessel Fabrication and Evaluation (Spring 2018*, Spring 2019*)
- EN482U, Advanced Seminar in Unmanned Maritime System Development (Spring 2018*)
* Course Coordinator
- Research Advisor, Naval Engineering Research Design Project (EN491 / EN492 / EN495 / EN496)
- Research Advisor, Honors Senior Thesis (EN503H / EN504H)
- Technical Advisor, Multiple Multidisciplinary Capstone Projects, USNA School of Engineering & Weapons
Research & Publications
- Publications:
