NAME at Michigan

10/12/2026

10/12/2026

The NAME at Michigan has been selected as a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for its “critical role in training the workforce that designs and builds the domestic maritime fleet.”

The designation makes U-M eligible to apply for a portion of the $30 million that USDOT’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has requested in its 2027 budget to support its Centers of Excellence.

Learn more ⬇️

08/05/2026

🛠️🚢 Summer 2026 Internship Spotlight: Austin Barber

This summer, NA&ME student Austin Barber has been interning at Tiara Yachts in Holland, Michigan, where he's working on manufacturing process improvements focused on deck lamination. His project involves redesigning the production cycle and schedule for large composite parts, giving him valuable hands-on manufacturing experience. ⚓📐

Great work, Austin! 👏

07/27/2026

Congratulations to Professor Michael M. Bernitsas, Mortimer E. Cooley Collegiate Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, on being awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the National Technical University of Athens, one of the highest academic honors recognizing a lifetime of contributions to engineering, research, and innovation. This distinction reflects decades of groundbreaking work, global impact, and dedication to advancing the fields of naval architecture and offshore engineering.

Read more in the article here: https://myumi.ch/11AZV

07/14/2026

🌏⚓ Summer 2026 Internship Spotlight: Ben Visco

This summer, Ben Visco is gaining international experience through an internship with Fincantieri in Genoa, Italy. From learning about the design of naval vessels and visiting active construction yards to taking classes at the University of Genoa, Ben is building technical knowledge while experiencing the global nature of naval architecture and marine engineering. 🚢⚙️

Great work, Ben!

07/09/2026

As the maritime industry evolves, so does the need for engineers who can design with sustainability in mind. Beginning this fall, University of Michigan master's students can pursue a new dual degree in naval architecture and marine engineering and sustainable systems through a College of Engineering and University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability collaboration.

"The status quo for the last two and a half decades... is now changing," said Thomas McKenney, associate professor of practice in NAME at Michigan. "Because of that, we need a closer connection between ship design and sustainable systems."

By combining both disciplines, graduates will be better prepared to navigate emerging technologies, changing regulations and environmental challenges.

Read more below ⚓

06/19/2026

ICYMI, University of Michigan Engineering has a new astronaut in its ranks. Alumni Andre Douglas, chosen for NASA's Artemis III mission launching in 2027, is now counted among the ranks of at least 11 other Michigan Engineers who served as astronauts, including James A. McDivitt, captain of the Gemini 4 mission, during which alumnus Ed White performed the first U.S. spacewalk.

Andre graduated with a Master's in NAME at Michigan and Mechanical Engineering- University of Michigan in 2012. As a Coast Guard naval architect, he has contributed to hundreds of technical reviews for maritime vessel compliance and provided worldwide technical support for numerous field commanders on maritime casualty response efforts. He has also supported NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which developed and demonstrated technologies for deflecting asteroids away from Earth, as well as the Mars Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.