Monterey, Calif. — From December 13-17, 2024, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) held its inaugural Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackathon, a milestone event aimed at solving real-world defense challenges. The Hackathon took place in the state-of-the-art Emerging Technology and Innovation Lab at the Dudley Knox Library, bringing students, cutting-edge technologies, and military partnerships together for a transformative learning experience.
Hands-On AI for Defense
The Hackathon was the culmination of an advanced course designed to give students practical experience in applying AI and machine learning (ML) to critical military problems. Partnering with the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA), the students worked on refining the Lessons Learned/After Action Report (AAR) support tool. This tool, vital to the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned (MCCLL), captures operational insights to foster continuous improvement across the force.
Leveraging Supercomputing for Real-World Solutions
Students utilized NPS’s High Performance Computing (HPC) Center, powered by the “Hamming” supercomputer, to analyze data and enhance the AAR tool. Their efforts aimed to improve the tool’s ability to provide actionable feedback by integrating advanced AI and ML techniques.
A Collaborative Approach to Innovation
The AAR tool plays a crucial role in the Marine Corps by ensuring lessons from past operations shape future missions and strategies. This collaboration between MCTSSA and NPS exemplifies the innovative potential of military-academic partnerships, addressing real-world operational needs with cutting-edge technologies.
The Hackathon underscores NPS’s commitment to preparing students to tackle the military’s most pressing challenges, ensuring technological readiness and operational superiority.
