2024 Spring Graduate Profile -- Lt. Daniel Smart, U.S. Navy

Today, more than 300 student warrior-scholars and future defense leaders will celebrate their graduation from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in King Hall Auditorium.

One of those Spring Quarter graduates is U.S. Navy Lt. Daniel Smart, a Surface Warfare Officer and Meyer Scholar receiving his master’s degree in Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering) through the Cyber Systems and Operations program. For his thesis, Smart studied the effects of coherent interference on radar receivers, with the hope that his research would spark further study into the use of radio frequency energy to protect against drone intrusion. For his innovative efforts, Smart received the Surface Navy Association Award for Excellence in Surface Warfare Research.

Smart, who is bound for Department Head School in Newport, R.I., says his NPS experience was invaluable.

“We had various guest speakers from industry program offices, the Missile Defense Agency and other organizations,” he said. “It was a big education into how the Navy and DOD work, beyond just going to sea and all about acquisitions and engineering development … I can’t recommend it highly enough to any servicemembers out there who want to pursue a master’s degree.”

Tune in today, June 21, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific (1:00 p.m. Eastern) to watch Smart and his fellow graduates celebrate the completion of their NPS studies during the Spring Quarter graduation ceremony, https://nps.edu/WatchLive. Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, commander of Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR), serves as commencement speaker.

• Learn more about the Spring Quarter graduating class: https://www.nps.edu/graduation