Welcome - Physics
The mission of the Physics Department is to provide defense-relevant, advanced education and research programs to meet Naval unique needs, and increase the warfighting effectiveness of the U.S. Naval Forces, DoD and allied armed forces.
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Our program produces officers who can apply broad technical, scientific and engineering principles to combat systems operation, evaluation, design, and development. Throughout the course of their career, their education in the fundamental principles of physics prepares them for opportunities to decrease cost, increase quality, and speed development of important projects for the Navy and the DOD.
Faculty members in the Physics Department conduct research in a wide variety of applied and basic physics disciplines. As a member of the Physics Department, you will be partnered with one of our faculty members to conduct research in support of your thesis. Many of our graduates consider this the best part of their NPS experience.
As a member of the Physics Department, you will be partnered with one of our faculty members to conduct research in support of your thesis. Many of our graduates consider this the best part of their NPS experience.
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Jul 17, 2025
Jul 23, 2025
Jul 24, 2025
Jul 28, 2025 to Aug 1, 2025
Aug 11, 2025 to Aug 15, 2025
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Contact Us
Spanagel Hall, Room 203
833 Dyer Road
Monterey, CA 93943-5216
Phone: (831) 656-3124
DSN: 756-3124
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, DR. KEVIN SMITH
The Department of Physics educates officers and civilians on modern Combat Systems and the fundamental science enabling them. We offer resident Master’s and Doctoral degree programs in Applied Physics with specializations in Weapons, Sensors, and Underwater Acoustics, as well as distance learning options in Engineering Acoustics and Combat Systems. The Department has extensive research facilities supporting these specializations, with active programs in directed energy weapons, explosives, undersea sensing and UUVs, quantum sensors, body armor, MEMS, and more.
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Alumni Spotlight
"The Navy and DOD are moving towards high-power laser weapons systems ... so the motivation for my thesis was to provide useful insights on the atmospheric propagation effects and their impacts."
Lt. Sasha Barnett, NPS Alumna
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