Maritime Workforce Training for the New Blue Economy

The University of Southern Mississippi's Roger F. Wicker Center has engaged the Mississippi Gulf Coast Industry to develop and offer open enrollment maritime workforce training to provide hands-on training (mainly in-water) with the most used Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USVs), Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The training allows active and transitioning military, members of the traditional blue economy workforce, and community college students opportunities for cross-training and re-training to help advance their careers in the new blue technology economy and provide critical training disrupted by COVID-19. The training includes online self-paced, as well as in-person activities directly associated with the workforce needs for uncrewed systems' technical and functional competencies. Each learner successfully completing the online and hands-on portions of the training received a non-degree certificate of completion and badge, while their feedback was incorporated into subsequent training days, as well as our analysis of hands-on and virtual models for future applicant growth and industry sustainability.