Ocean Engineering Department at Texas A&M University

Another Global Aggie Spotlight! 🌏 This summer, Texas A&M Ocean Engineering is making headlines overseas thanks to our talented students. Druw Bramlett is hard at work in Helsinki, Finland, where he’s honing his skills during an internship at NAPA—a leader in maritime innovation and technology.

We’re so proud to have Aggies like Druw representing our program and university on an international stage. Keep up the great work, Druw, and continue to make waves around the world! Gig ‘em! 👍🏻🌊

Greetings from Helsinki, Finland! 🌍 Whoop for ocean engineering student Ellie Mulvihill, who’s making waves this summer during her internship with NAPA! We’re so proud to see Ellie representing Texas A&M across the globe—keep showing that Aggie spirit and engineering excellence abroad! Way to go, Ellie—Gig ‘em! 👍🏻🌊

Exciting news from our Texas A&M Ocean Engineering family! This summer, our amazing students are making an impact with incredible internships around the globe.
Meet Ellie Mulvihill and Druw Bramlett—currently taking on Helsinki, Finland, as interns at NAPA! NAPA is a trailblazer in maritime software and technology, driving the future of the global shipping industry with innovative, data-driven solutions.
We couldn’t be prouder of Ellie and Druw for their hard work, dedication, and adventurous spirit. Keep inspiring us and representing Aggieland on the world stage! Gig ‘em!

Meet undergraduate student Samantha Garcia from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who is making waves this summer in our ocean engineering research labs through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program! Today, Samantha is using simulation tools to study how beaches recover after storms. The latest experiment looks at how adding sediment offshore can help combat coastal erosion. The goal? To better understand how waves can drive natural recovery and protect our coastlines.

🌊 Summer research is in full swing in the Ocean Engineering Department! We’re excited to welcome undergraduate students Samantha Garcia, Annah Trevino, and Kevin Cardenas from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), who have joined us through our partnership with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).

This talented trio is diving into projects like investigating rail static tester dynamics and friction, conducting advanced soil testing, and exploring how our coastal beaches respond and recover after storms—uncovering the fascinating ways sediment moves and rebuilds!

Stay tuned as they share their discoveries and hands-on experiences throughout the summer. Welcome aboard, Samantha, Annah, and Kevin! 👋🔬🌴

🌊 Last week, the Ocean Engineering Department at Texas A&M was thrilled to welcome the Marine Autonomy Workshop, hosted by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Laboratory for Ocean Innovation (LOI)!

The event was a huge success, bringing together top leaders and brilliant minds from industry, government, and academia to dive deep into the future of marine autonomy. With around 15 companies and 70 passionate attendees, the workshop was alive with exciting research, innovative ideas, and dynamic discussions.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to help drive the next wave of ocean engineering innovation! Stay tuned for more updates and future collaborations. 🌊

🌟 Student Highlights 🌟
Congratulations to Ocean Engineering Ph.D. students Julia Gionet-Gonzales and Ashley Mullen on receiving renewable energy scholarships! 🌊🎓
Both Julia and Ashley are pursuing their doctorates in Ocean Engineering under the guidance of Dr. Girimaji. Their research focuses on oscillating water column wave energy converters, and they are both expected to graduate in 2026.
Julia completed her undergraduate studies at UC Merced, earning a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. ⚙️ Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering from Texas A&M before beginning her doctoral journey. 🌎
Julia hopes her research will contribute to greater energy security and reliability 🔋, while Ashley is passionate about improving clean energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints. 🌱🌞
Best wishes to these outstanding students—we can’t wait to see the innovative contributions you’ll make in the field of renewable energy!! 👏

🏁⚡PEP26 Final Wrap-Up: Rising to the Challenge & Eyeing the Future!⚡🏁
What a finish! Even faced with unexpected structural setbacks, the ocean engineering students on the Texas A&M Electric Boat Team refused to back down—surging ahead to outperform more than half of the qualified competition. The vessel’s electric propulsion and control systems stood strong under real race conditions, proving the power of Aggie engineering and their forward-thinking design.
This year’s competition was a masterclass in adaptability and problem-solving. Despite every curveball thrown their way, the team met each one with determination, grit, and true teamwork. The lessons learned have only energized us for what’s next.
Looking ahead, the team is excited to announce plans for a bold new hull design. Building on this season’s reliable propulsion and electrical systems, the 2026 team is already charting a course for even greater achievements.
The 2026 Promoting Electric Propulsion Competition showcased what Aggies are made of—and demonstrated that the best is yet to come. Thank you Kai, Nevin, Philemon, Allen, Andrew and Thomas for all your hard work!👏👏
Stay tuned, and Gig ’em! 👍⚡🚤

🌊⚡Day 2 Endurance Race: Resilience on the Water!⚡🌊
Day 2 saw ocean engineering students from the Texas A&M Electric Boat Team enter the high-stakes Unmanned Division, where pilots expertly guided their vessels remotely from a Navy-operated chase boat. The Aggies kicked off strong—the boat cruised smoothly through the challenging endurance course, maintaining stable control and consistent propulsion while covering more than half a nautical mile!
But the competition threw another twist their way. Partway through the race, the team noticed a developing issue with the hull’s structure. After retrieval and a closer look, they discovered that a hairline crack—traced back to earlier shipping damage—had expanded under the strain, ultimately limiting the boat’s ability to complete the full course.
Despite this setback, our team’s quick thinking, determination, and technical skill were front and center. Every challenge only fuels their resolve to push the limits of electric propulsion and represent Aggie engineering at its finest.
Stay tuned—this journey is far from over. We’re repairing, learning, and coming back stronger!
Gig ’em, Texas A&M! 👍⚡🚤

🚤⚡Qualifying: Overcoming Adversity, Charging Forward! ⚡🚤
Ocean engineering students on the Texas A&M Electric Boat Team—Kai Marayag, Nevin McKay, Philemon Kim, Allen Lawrence, Andrew Tucker, and Thomas Turner—officially landed in Portsmouth City Park, VA, ready to make waves at the prestigious Promoting Electric Propulsion Competition (PEP26)!
But right out of the gate, they were thrown a curveball: after unpacking, the team found shipping-related damage to BOTH the hull and the mechanical drive system! Without missing a beat, these Aggies rolled up their sleeves and leapt into repair mode, showing true perseverance and teamwork under pressure. 💪
Thanks to their determination, the team managed to restore the vessel just in time for the crucial qualifying round. 🛠️
As ocean engineering student Andrew Tucker shared, “Despite these challenges, Texas A&M successfully completed the 200-meter qualification run, earning a place among only 18 teams that advanced to the final race. This performance highlighted the robustness of the vessel’s electrical and propulsion systems, which operated as designed under competition conditions.”
Their resilience and innovative spirit truly shined—demonstrating the strength of their electrical and propulsion systems under real-world, high-stakes conditions.
Stay tuned, Aggie fans—our journey is just getting started! Gig ‘em! 👍🚤✨