Partnership for Progress: VCU’s Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Program Fuels Career Growth at Newport News Shipbuilding
In the heart of Virginia, a transformative partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) is not only reshaping the educational landscape but is also powering the future of engineering excellence.
The Technical Graduate Program (TGP) between NNS and VCU Engineering has enabled more than 75 NNS engineers to earn their Master of Science in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (MNE) with an additional 86 students currently enrolled in the latest cohorts.
The curriculum and program structure for the MNE program was developed with input from NNS and was designed by the College of Engineering specifically for the working professional. Courses are delivered synchronously, allowing the students to take master’s level classes remotely, but in real-time with the VCU Engineering professors. Many of the classes are held conveniently after work or in the evenings.
Program Design and Flexibility
While the M.S. degree typically takes three years to complete, Karla Mossi, Ph.D., mechanical and nuclear engineering professor and graduate program director, notes that many NNS students finish the rigorous program in just two and a half years.
Since the first cohort enrolled, Mossi and the department faculty and staff have been committed to supporting engineering students to ensure they can balance furthering their education with demanding careers.
“We’re there to make sure a person who works full time can finish their degree,” Mossi said. “We tell our students, ‘We’ll work with you. If you have to travel for work, we’ll accommodate that.’ Our goal is to make sure full-time professionals can succeed.”
Industry Impact and Workforce Development – Fueling Career Growth
The largest industrial employer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a division of HII, NNS has leveraged its corporate partnership with VCU to upskill its engineering workforce across disciplines while fostering employee collaboration and career advancement.
Newport News Shipbuilding ensures a steady pipeline of skilled professionals are equipped to tackle the complexities of naval engineering, particularly in nuclear-powered vessels. The company builds nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy..
Matthew Burris, an engineering department head at NNS, described the 15-year TGP partnership between the company and VCU as “nothing short of amazing, as is Dr. Mossi’s support and sponsorship of the program.”
To enter the TGP program takes considerable commitment beyond their current careers, so each NNS student enrolls in the M.S. program with the full endorsement of their leadership teams.
“These NNS leaders are pledging to support the individuals in their pursuit of an advanced Engineering degree, knowing this advanced degree will not only grow the individual and increase their technical skillset, but it will also increase the technical ‘bench depth’ of NNS Engineering,” Burris said.
The degree can also help TGP graduates advance quicker at NNS, Burris explained. “As an engineering manager I have seen a number of our TGP graduates move upward quickly in the company, some up into engineering leadership positions within the company, with their master’s degree acquired through the partnership with VCU as one of the driving factors for that upward progression,” he said.
Comprehensive coursework in reactor design, thermal-hydraulics, structural mechanics and computational modeling ensures students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Beyond individual success stories – and the program’s high graduation rate of 94% – the partnership fosters team building and collaborations at NNS. For instance, the NNS fall 2024 cohort organized study spaces equipped with advanced technology, enhancing their collective learning experience.
Recruiting and Retention Benefits- a Strategic Advantage
By investing in its workforce through advanced education, NNS not only strengthens its technical capabilities but also secures its position as a leader in naval engineering innovation and gives the company a boost when recruiting new employees.
Burris attends career fairs, conferences and recruiting events on behalf of NNS Engineering. “It is common that I receive questions about continuing education opportunities within NNS. Without fail I mention the TGP partnerships, specifically mentioning the VCU TGP,” Burris said.
Academic Excellence and Recognition – Rankings Reflect Success
VCU’s hybrid mechanical and nuclear engineering program provides advanced training to support the nuclear propulsion, naval design and manufacturing operations at NNS.
Azim Eskandarian, D.Sc., the Alice T. and William H. Goodwin Jr. Dean of the College of Engineering, lauds corporate partnerships with companies like NNS, which are investing in future talent and innovation and keeping talented engineers in the Commonwealth.
“VCU Engineering’s engagement with corporate partners has also enabled students to take advantage of external funding to support their education, eliminating or minimizing any debt upon graduation,” Eskandarian said.
He believes these factors helped propel the university’s College of Engineering to be ranked No. 22 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Online Master’s in Engineering Programs list, rising 30 spots from No. 52 in 2024.
The first nuclear program VCU added was a nuclear track to its M.S. in Engineering degree in 2007. In 2008, the university received State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) approval to offer an M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, including an online modality.
Virginia Commonwealth University offers the only hybrid M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in the country. Eskandarian notes that the success of the MNE program has provided a template for additional graduate offerings.
“The success of this program is repeated with two additional MS in Engineering hybrid and online degree programs, the Engineering Management and the Aerospace Engineering concentrations, which offer additional timely specialties for our professional students,” said Eskandarian. “These programs support the much-needed regional and national tech talents required in these respective fields.”
One Engineer’s Story – Success From Classroom to Career
Mohamed Elrahhal, a system engineer at NNS, entered the master’s program to deepen his expertise in mechanical and nuclear engineering and to advance his career in a specialized direction.
“I wanted to go beyond theoretical knowledge and engage in practical applications, research and real-world problem-solving,” said Elrahhal, who completed his degree in May 2024.
With a passion for learning and research, Elrahhal found one of the most enjoyable and valuable aspects of the master’s program was the depth of technical knowledge combined with real-world applications in nuclear engineering.
“Access to state-of-the-art laboratories, nuclear simulation software and partnerships with industry leaders enriched the learning experience, preparing students for careers in commercial reactor operations, nuclear R&D and energy policy development,” he said.
He acknowledged that online learning could present challenges and required self-discipline, but the cohort model has a built-in peer support system in which students build professional relationships, allowing them to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and share diverse industry perspectives.
As a Systems Engineer, Elrahhal’s role at Newport News Shipbuilding involves defining the requirements, designing, developing, building and maintaining tools, processes and data architecture within a Model-Based Enterprise (MBE).
With a background in civil engineering, Elrahhal has already been able to apply his new technical skills for analyzing and optimizing reactor cooling systems using principles from heat transfer and thermal-fluid sciences, and by applying mechanics of materials and structural analysis to ensure nuclear facility components meet safety and longevity standards.
“The knowledge gained from VCU’s mechanical nuclear engineering courses has had practical applications in my work environment, from engineering design and safety assessments to collaborating with teams on regulatory compliance and system optimization,” Elrahhal said.
Looking Ahead: A Blueprint for Industry – Academic Collaboration
As Virginia’s engineering landscape continues to evolve, the VCU-Newport News Shipbuilding partnership stands as a model for effective industry-academic collaboration. With plans to expand program offerings and potentially include emerging technologies such as advanced manufacturing and digital engineering, both institutions are positioned to meet future workforce needs.
“This partnership has created a blueprint we hope to replicate with other industry leaders,” says Mossi. “By combining academic rigor with industry relevance, we’re not just educating engineers—we’re building Virginia’s technological future.” As NNS continues to secure critical defense contracts and VCU enhances its engineering programs, their collaboration promises to generate new opportunities for innovation, career advancement, and economic growth throughout the Commonwealth.
The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to perform real-world research as soon as they enroll. Formed from a partnership with Dominion Energy, the department provides a foundation in nuclear energy, allowing students to choose their educational path with advanced coursework in either mechanical or nuclear engineering. Access to industry tools, like the Nuclear Reactor Simulator Laboratory, grounds education in practical instruction. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.
Categories Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering