USA’s Launchpad Pilot Program Strengthens the Gulf Coast Maritime Pipeline
Posted on March 3, 2026
The University of South Alabama’s Office of Community Engagement and College of Engineering concluded a weeklong science, technology, engineering and mathematics maritime pilot program that gave high-achieving students an immersive look into shipbuilding and systems engineering.
The Maritime Launchpad is a strategic partnership between USA’s Office of Community Engagement, USA’s College of Engineering, Alabama School of Math and Science and Northeastern University’s Defense Industrial Base Institute, which funded the program from a grant awarded by the U.S. Navy.
“The main goal of this pilot pipeline program is to provide an opportunity for students to explore the maritime industry through systems engineering,” said Dr. Joél Billingsley, vice president of the USA Office of Community Engagement. “The week of education was also a demonstration of how our community can work together to support the American maritime industry and educate a potential future workforce.”
Dr. Bhushan Lohar, assistant professor of systems engineering, Dr. Sean Walker, program coordinator and associate professor of systems engineering, along with other faculty and graduate students at the USA College of Engineering, collaborated with students from the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science to help build two remote-controlled speedboats.
According to Lohar, this intensive program provided the sophomore and junior high-achieving Alabama School of Math and Science students with a rigorous and hands-on curriculum. Through this pilot program, South’s College of Engineering and the Department of Systems Engineering are directly addressing the critical workforce needs of the Gulf Coast region.
In addition, this partnership is serving as a blueprint for what a community-based industry effort can achieve.
“Our goal was to create more than just a classroom experience; we designed a course that puts these bright minds directly into the realities of the maritime sector,” Lohar said. “By blending theoretical systems engineering with hands-on application, we are ensuring the next generation of engineers is ready to hit the ground running.”
Students were divided into red and blue teams. Each played a specific role during the boat construction and the launchpad showcase, with responsibilities spanning design, system layouts, performance, testing, safety and industry standards. The students held positions as chief engineer, driver and navigator.
The initiative showcased the students’ systems-thinking skills and highlighted the Gulf Coast’s maritime workforce pipeline. Before finishing the remote-controlled speedboats, students visited several shipbuilding companies to observe industrial construction processes.
“This has been a great motivational opportunity for our students,” said Brian Sayler, English teacher at the Alabama School of Math and Science. “The students are talking about how this experience will help them better know what they want to do or not do in their future careers. And now they have learned about the different career options one can have in engineering and maritime. It was a winning week.”
Throughout the week, students and faculty engaged in hands-on maritime design and industrial base strategy, bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world applications. The students also participated in 10 different demonstrations during the annual Engineering Day held on South’s campus.
In addition to the construction phase, students participated in several interactive sessions. The program culminated with the launch of a student-built boat at the Five Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Following the speedboat race showcase held on the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Team Blue was named the winner of the competition. Both the blue and red teams received award medallions and other awards for their efforts.
“This pilot project is a testament to what happens when community and academia align,” Lohar said. “We aren’t just teaching students; we are building a specialized workforce that has the potential to sustain the Port of Mobile for decades to come. South’s College of Engineering plays a vital role in this ecosystem. We are ensuring our community remains the heart of the Gulf Coast’s maritime growth.”
