Gulf Blue, CNMOC Establish Partnership to Advance Technology Transfer and Innovation on the Gulf Coast

Wed, 09/09/2026 - 10:34am

Gulf Blue, LLC, has entered into a five-year Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC) to expand technology transfer, commercialization and collaborative research opportunities between Naval Oceanography, small businesses and educational institutions across the Gulf Coast.

The agreement establishes a formal framework through which Gulf Blue will help advance U.S. warfighter capabilities by promoting cooperative activities between CNMOC and industry, academia and entrepreneurs to rapidly identify dual-use technologies that meet the mission-critical needs of the Department of War (DoW).

“This is an important step in strengthening the connections between CNMOC and innovators in Mississippi,” said Brian J. Cuevas, Ph.D., associate vice president of research and innovation at The University of Southern Mississippi. “Through Gulf Blue, Mississippi has built an ecosystem focused on connecting innovation with opportunity. This PIA gives us another powerful mechanism to help companies and researchers engage with Naval Oceanography while supporting technology commercialization, economic development and national security.”

CNMOC, headquartered at John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, leads the Navy’s meteorology and oceanography enterprise and supports naval and joint forces through capabilities spanning meteorology and oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry, precise time and related environmental intelligence.

Under the agreement, Gulf Blue will work with CNMOC to foster cooperative research, technology transfer and economic development along the Gulf Coast Region by:

• Conducting technology showcases, market research and industry engagement activities;
• Highlighting technologies and capabilities from Gulf Coast companies and universities that may address Naval Oceanography research and operational needs;
• Supporting STEM outreach, mentorship, workforce development and connections between CNMOC subject-matter experts and educational institutions;
• Connecting small businesses and educational institutions with CNMOC technologies available for licensing;
• Identifying prospective partners for Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs);
• Connecting researchers and companies with CNMOC research priorities and Broad Agency Announcement opportunities;
• Supporting engagement around Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) opportunities; and
• Identifying CNMOC research capabilities that may support outside businesses and educational institutions.

“To meet the demands of the modern fleet, we have to move at the speed of innovation. Gulf Blue acts as a direct extension of our Tech Transfer office,” said Sidney Dills, N95 Office of Research and Technology Applications. “This PIA gives us the agile outreach capability we need to continuously scout, evaluate and transition technologies that address today’s immediate warfighting needs and tomorrow’s emerging threats.”

The partnership builds upon Gulf Blue’s broader effort to strengthen the Blue Economy innovation ecosystem along the Mississippi Gulf Coast by connecting companies with university research, federal assets, testing environments, industry expertise and commercialization resources.

“This is exactly the type of connection Gulf Blue was created to facilitate,” said Natalie Guess, assistant director of innovation and impact at The University of Southern Mississippi. “The Mississippi Gulf Coast has an extraordinary concentration of federal research, ocean science, defense, university and private-sector capabilities. By creating stronger pathways between those assets, we can help innovative technologies move from research to application while creating new opportunities for companies, researchers and our regional economy.”

The agreement also provides opportunities for CNMOC and Gulf Blue to jointly showcase technologies and research priorities, identify potential commercialization partners and strengthen the regional pipeline of companies and talent supporting ocean science, maritime technology and national security.

About Gulf Blue
Gulf Blue, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Southern Mississippi Research Foundation (USMRF), a nonprofit entity. By its Articles of Incorporation, USMRF is administered and operated exclusively for the benefit of The University of Southern Mississippi. Gulf Blue is considered a disregarded entity of USMRF for tax purposes and thus is considered a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Gulf Blue leads a collaborative, place-based innovation initiative supported by the university and the USMFR to advance innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth across the Blue Economy. Through programs including Gulf Blue Navigator, Gulf Blue connects high-growth companies with research expertise, coastal testing environments, federal and industry partners, investment opportunities and other resources designed to accelerate commercialization and growth along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

About Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command
Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command leads the U.S. Navy’s meteorology and oceanography enterprise from John C. Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. Naval Oceanography provides environmental information and capabilities, including meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, bathymetry and related scientific expertise that enable naval and joint-force decision-making, safety and operational effectiveness.