This might be funny to my fellow communicators

It’s important to find a university that works well with the military and has a good reputation for providing quality education. I’ve seen a lot of people in the military waste their time and the government’s money for degrees from paper mill universities. I urge everyone to not signup at the first college available onbase. Remember, you’ll get what you put into it. If the college sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good.  On the other hand, as long as the college is accredited  -the military doesn’t look much into where you get a degree.  So, if you only want points for a test or advancement, i recommend Vincennes University. Read more to get the 2010 Military Friendly College List

A great place to start is the Navy college website. There you can find information about different colleges for all military branches. https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/storefront.cfm

In responding to Sailor’s need for greater access to higher education, Navy College Program (NCP) has developed partnerships with colleges and universities to offer rating relevant degrees via distance learning to Sailors everywhere. These new education partnerships provide associates and bachelors degree programs relevant to each rating, and make maximum use of military professional training and experience to fulfill degree requirements. The program also provides opportunities to take courses through distance learning so that Sailors anywhere will be able to pursue a degree. The goal of the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP) Schools is to support both the Sailor’s mobile lifestyle and educational goals with rating relevant degree programs. Courses are offered in a variety of formats, such as CD-ROM, videotape, paper, or over the Internet. Contact your Navy College Office or the Navy College Center about degree programs available from your partnership schools.

 2010 Military Friendly Colleges and Universities List

ALABAMA
American Sentinel University
Amridge University
Andrew Jackson University
Athens State University
Auburn University
Auburn University-Montgomery
Bevill State Community College
Bishop State Community College
Calhoun Community College
Central Alabama Community College
Chattahoochee Valley Community College
Columbia Southern University
Faulkner University
Faulkner University, Huntsville
Herzing University
Jacksonville State University
Judson College
Lawson State Community College
Lurleen B Wallace Community College
Marion Military Institute
Northeast Alabama Community College
The University of Alabama Executive MBA Program
United States Sports Academy
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama, College of Continuing Studies
University of Montevallo
University of North Alabama
Wallace Community College Selma
ALASKA
University of Alaska Anchorage
University of Alaska Fairbanks
ARIZONA
Arizona State University
Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus
Cochise College
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
GateWay Community College
Grand Canyon University
International Import-Export Institute at Dunlap-Stone University
Mohave Community College
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Northcentral University
Pima Community College
Refrigeration School Inc.
Rio Salado College
The Paralegal Institute
University of Phoenix
Western International University
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Northeastern College
Arkansas State University-Beebe
Arkansas State University-Main Campus
Arkansas State University-Newport
Arkansas Tech University
Central Baptist College
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
Henderson State University
Mid-South Community College
National Park Community College
Ouachita Baptist University
Pulaski Technical College
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Arkansas Fayetteville
CALIFORNIA
Allan Hancock College
Allied American University
American Graduate University
American River College
Ashford University
Aviation & Electronic Schools of America
Bakersfield College
Barstow Community College
Brandman Univeristy
California Baptist University
California Career School
California Coast University
California National University for Advanced Studies
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Long Beach
Cerritos College
City College of San Francisco
Coast Community College
Coastline Community College
Coleman University
College of the Canyons
Community Business College
Cuyamaca College
Cypress College
Fullerton College
Golden Gate University-San Francisco
Grossmont College
Henley-Putnam University
High-Tech Institute-Sacramento
Hope International University
International School of Beauty Inc.
International Sports Sciences Association
La Sierra University
Las Positas College
MiraCosta College Community Services
Monterey Institute of International Studies
Mt. San Antonio College
National University
Orange Coast College
Palomar Community College District
Rio Hondo College
Sacramento City College
San Diego City College, Military and Government Education
San Diego Miramar College
San Diego State University
San Joaquin Delta College
Southern California Seminary
Southwestern College
Stanford University, Center for Professional Development
The Art Institute of California – San Diego
The University of West Los Angeles
TUI University (Formerly Touro University International)
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of La Verne
University of San Diego
University of Southern California
University of the Pacific
West Los Angeles College
Westwood College-South Bay
Yuba College
COLORADO
Argosy University – Denver Campus
Aspen University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University, Global Campus
Colorado State University, College of Business MBA Programs
Colorado State University, Continuing Education
Colorado State University, Pueblo
Colorado Technical University
Community College of Aurora
Front Range Community College
Jones International University
Mesa State College
Metropolitan State College of Denver
National American University-Colorado Springs
Nazarene Bible College
Pikes Peak Community College
Red Rocks Community College
Redstone College
Regis University CPS
Remington College-Colorado Springs Campus
The Art Institute of Colorado
U.S. Career Institute
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Webster University Worldwide
CONNECTICUT
Asnuntuck Community College
Charter Oak State College
Connecticut Culinary Institute
Fairfield University
Mitchell College
Quinebaug Valley Community College
Tunxis Community College
University of Bridgeport
DELAWARE
Goldey-Beacom College
Wilmington University
FLORIDA
Academy of Cosmetology
Academy of Cosmetology-Palm Bay
Broward College
Commercial Diving Academy
Daytona State College
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
Everest University Online
Flagler College-Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida International University
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Florida State University
Gulf Coast Community College
Hillsborough Community College
Jacksonville University
Jones College
Kaplan University (Online)
Keiser University-Ft. Lauderdale
Palm Beach Community College
Pasco-Hernando Community College
Pensacola Junior College
Rasmussen College – Multi-campus System
Saint Leo University
St. Thomas University
State College of Florida, Manatee – Sarasota
Tallahassee Community College
The Baptist College of Florida
The University of Tampa
Trinity International University
University of Central Florida
University of North Florida
University of Notre Dame
University of South Florida
University of West Florida
Webber International University
GEORGIA
Albany Technical College
Altamaha Technical College
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Ashworth College
Columbus Technical College
Emmanuel College
Fort Valley State University
Georgia Military College-Valdosta Campus
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service
Laurus Technical Institute
Luther Rice Seminary and University
Macon State College
Mercer University School of Theology
North Georgia College & State University
Okefenokee Technical College
Paine College
Savannah State University
Southeastern Technical College
Thomas University
HAWAII
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Hawai‘i Pacific University
Heald College-Honolulu
Kapiolani Community College
University of Hawai’i – West O’ahu
University of Hawaii at Hilo
IDAHO
Boise State University
College of Southern Idaho
Idaho State University
North Idaho College
University of Idaho
ILLINOIS
Adler School of Professional Psychology
American Flyers
American InterContinental University
Argosy University – Chicago
Bradley University
Chicago State University
City Colleges of Chicago, Harold Washington College
College of Business University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College of DuPage
College Of Lake County
Coyne American Institute Inc
DeVry University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University, School of Continuing Education
Ellis University
Governors State University
Governors State University, School of Extended Learning
Herzing University Online
Illinois Central College
Illinois State University
John A Logan College
John Wood Community College
Kaskaskia College
Keller Graduate School of Management of the DeVry University
Lewis University
Lincoln Land Community College
MacCormac College
MacMurray College
McKendree University
Midstate College
Morrison Institute of Technology
North Park University
Northern Illinois University
Oakton Community College
Parkland College
Quincy University
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Sauk Valley Community College
Shimer College
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Triton College
University of Illinois Institute of Aviation
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Western Illinois University
INDIANA
Anderson University
Ball State University
Ball State University, School of Extended Education
Bethel College
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Harrison College
Indiana State University
Indiana Tech
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business Full-time MBA Program
Indiana University-Bloomington
Indiana University-East
Indiana University-Kokomo
Indiana University-Northwest
Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne
Indiana University-Southeast
Indiana Wesleyan University
ITT Educational Services
Ivy Tech Community College
Ottawa University-Jeffersonville
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Taylor University
University of Evansville
University of Indianapolis
University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
University of Southern Indiana
Vincennes University
IOWA
AIB College of Business
Briar Cliff University
Clarke College
Des Moines Area Community College
Graceland University-Lamoni
Indian Hills Community College
Iowa Lakes Community College
Iowa Wesleyan College
Kaplan University-Des Moines Campus
Kirkwood Community College
North Iowa Area Community College
Northeast Iowa Community College-Calmar
Northwestern College
Southeastern Community College
St. Ambrose University
The College of Business at Iowa State University
University of Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
Upper Iowa University
KANSAS
Baker University
Barton County Community College
Cowley County Community College
Dodge City Community College
Fort Hays State University
Johnson County Community College
Kansas State University
Labette Community College
Pittsburg State University
Southwestern College Professional Studies
Wichita State University
KENTUCKY
Asbury Theological Seminary
Bellarmine University
Berea College
Campbellsville University
Eastern Kentucky University
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Georgetown College
Hopkinsville Community College
Kentucky Wesleyan College
Louisville Technical Institute
Maysville Community and Technical College
Mid-Continent University
Midway College
Morehead State University
Murray State University
Sullivan University – Fort Knox Campus
Sullivan University, Lexington
The University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Western Kentucky University
LOUISIANA
Diesel Driving Academy – Shreveport
Louisiana Culinary Institute
Louisiana Tech University
Nicholls State University
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Our Lady of Holy Cross College
Remington College-Lafayette Campus
Southeastern Louisiana University
The University of Louisiana @ Monroe
Tulane University of Louisiana
Tulane University, School of Continuing Studies
MAINE
Central Maine Community College
Husson University
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
The Landing School
University of Maine
University of Maine at Farmington
University of Maine at Presque Isle
University of Southern Maine
York County Community College
MARYLAND
Anne Arundel Community College
Capitol College
Hagerstown Community College
Harford Community College
Hood College
Johns Hopkins University, Engineering for Professionals
Montgomery College
Prince George’s Community College
Salisbury University
Towson University
University of Maryland University College
Washington Bible College , Capital Bible Seminary
MASSACHUSETTS
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
Bridgewater State College
Cambridge College
Elms College
Fisher College
Mount Ida College
National Graduate School of Quality Management
Northeastern University, College of Professional Studies
Northern Essex Community College
Quinsigamond Community College
Regis College
Western New England College
MICHIGAN
Baker College Online
Bay de Noc Community College
Central Michigan University
Cleary University
Davenport University
Eastern Michigan University
Ferris State University
Finlandia University
Gogebic Community College
Grace Bible College
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Valley State University
Jackson Community College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kellogg Community College
Kettering University
Kettering University, Graduate Programs
Lake Superior State University
Lansing Community College
Lawrence Technological University
Macomb Community College
Madonna University
Michigan Institute of Aviation & Technology
Michigan Technological University
MJI Institute
Northern Michigan University
Northwestern Michigan College
Oakland University
Schoolcraft College
Siena Heights University
Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration
Washtenaw Community College
Wayne State University
Wayne State University, School of Business
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University, College of Aviation
MINNESOTA
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Augsburg College
Bemidji State University
Capella University
Century Community and Technical College
Dakota County Technical College
Globe University/Minnesota School of Business
Hibbing Community College A Technical and Community College
Inver Hills Community College
Metropolitan State University
Minnesota School of Business-Waite Park
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Normandale Community College
Northland Community and Technical College
Northwest Technical College
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
St. Cloud State University
The College of St. Scholastica
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
University of Minnesota-Crookston
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Utah Career College
Walden University
MISSISSIPPI
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Mississippi State University
University of Mississippi Main Campus
William Carey University
MISSOURI
Calvary Bible College and Calvary Theological Seminary
Columbia College
Drury University
Evangel University
Forest Institute of Professional Psychology
Grantham University
Lindenwood University
Maryville University
Missouri Southern State University
Missouri State University-West Plains
Missouri Western State University
National Academy of Beauty Arts
Park University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University School for Professional Studies
Southeast Missouri State University
Southwest Baptist University
The Tom Rose School for Professional Dog Trainers
University of Central Missouri
University of Missouri
Vatterott Educational Centers, Inc.
Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School
Webster University
MONTANA
Dawson Community College
Health Works Institute
Miles Community College
Montana State University – Bozeman
MSU – Great Falls College of Technology
Stone Child College
The University of Montana-Helena, College of Technology
University of Great Falls
NEBRASKA
Bellevue University
Creighton University School of Nursing
Grace University
Metropolitan Community College
Midland Lutheran College
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Northeast Community College
Southeast Community College – Nebraska
University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska—Lincoln
Wayne State College
NEVADA
College of Southern Nevada
The Art Institute of Las Vegas
Truckee Meadows Community College
University of Nevada-Reno
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New England College
NHTI-Concord’s Community College
Saint Anselm College
Seacoast Career School-Manchester Campus
Southern New Hampshire University
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
NEW JERSEY
Berkeley College
Bloomfield College
Caldwell College
Drew University
Georgian Court University
Gloucester County College
Kean University
Lincoln Educational Services
Montclair State University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus
Salem Community College
Seton Hall University
Stevens Institute of Technology
The Institute for Health Education
Thomas Edison State College
NEW MEXICO
Eastern New Mexico University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University – Alamogordo
Northern New Mexico College
The University of New Mexico
NEW YORK
Adelphi University
American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Binghamton University, State University of New York
Broome Community College
Columbia-Greene Community College
CUNY College of Staten Island
CUNY School of Professional Studies
Daemen College
Dowling College
D’Youville College
Empire State College State University of New York
Excelsior College
Hilbert College
Houghton College
Jamestown Community College
Keuka College
Marist College
Maritime College
Mercy College
Metropolitan College of New York
Mohawk Valley Community College-Utica Branch
Monroe College-Main Campus
Monroe Community College – Rochester
Nazareth College of Rochester
New York Chiropractic College
New York Institute of Technology, Manhattan Campus
Nyack College
Olean Business Institute
Pace University
Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
St. Bonaventure University
St. Francis College
State University of New York, Binghamton University
Sullivan County Community College
SUNY College at Brockport
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
SUNY Learning Network
SUNY Ulster County Community College
Syracuse University
The Art Institute of New York City
The Culinary Institute of America
The CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies
Union Graduate College
Utica College
NORTH CAROLINA
Apex School of Theology
Appalachian State University
Bladen Community College
Campbell University
Central Piedmont Community College
Chowan University
Davidson County Community College
Division of Continuing Studies, East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Guilford Technical Community College
Halifax Community College
High Point University
John Wesley College
Mars Hill College
Montgomery Community College
Mount Olive College
Nash Community College
North Carolina Central University
Pfeiffer University
Pitt Community College
Richmond Community College
Rockingham Community College
Sandhills Community College
Shaw University
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
Stanly Community College
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Western Carolina University
Wilkes Community College
NORTH DAKOTA
Bismarck State College
Dakota College at Bottineau
Exact-Med/UTTC Transcription Training
Jamestown College
Mayville State University
Minot State University
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Northland Community and Technical College – Grand Forks
The University of North Dakota
University of Mary
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota, College of Business & Public Administration
Valley City State University
OHIO
Akron Institute of Herzing University
Antioch University McGregor
Ashland University
Baldwin-Wallace College
Belmont Technical College
Bluffton University
Bohecker College-Cincinnati
Bowling Green State University, Continuing & Extended Education
Capital University
Cedarville University
Central State University
Chatfield College
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Clark State Community College
Clark State Community College, Commercial Transportation Training Center
Cleveland Institute of Electronics
Cleveland State University
Columbus State Community College
Cuyahoga Community College
Defiance College
Edison State Community College
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Franklin University
Heidelberg University
Hocking College
John Carroll University
Kent State University
Kent State University Ashtabula Campus
Kent State University Geauga Campus
Lake Erie College
Lakeland Community College
Lourdes College
Malone University
Marion Technical College
Mercy College of Northwest Ohio
Miami University
Miami University-Middletown campus
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
National College
Northwest State Community College
Ohio Dominican University
Ohio Northern University
Otterbein College
Owens Community College
Southern State Community College
Stark State College of Technology
Stautzenberger College
The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business
The University of Akron
The University of Findlay
The University of Toledo
Tiffin University
United Theological Seminary
University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati, Graduate School
University of Northwestern Ohio
Urbana University
Walsh University
Wittenberg University
Wright State University
Wright State University-Lake Campus
Xavier University
Youngstown State University
Zane State College
OKLAHOMA
Carl Albert State College
Davis College
East Central University
Eastern Oklahoma State College
Langston University
Northern Oklahoma College
Oklahoma City Community College
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
Oral Roberts University
Rose State College
Southwestern Christian University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Tulsa Community College
University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma, College of Liberal Studies
Western Oklahoma State College
OREGON
American College of Healthcare Sciences
Chemeketa Community College
Clackamas Community College
Eastern Oregon University
Eugene Bible College
Marylhurst University
Mt Hood Community College
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University – Extended Campus
Portland Community College
Rogue Community College
Southern Oregon University
Treasure Valley Community College
University of Oregon
PENNSYLVANIA
Arcadia University
Automotive Training Center
Blackstone Career Institute
California University of Pennsylvania, Global Online
Cambria Rowe Business College
Central Pennsylvania College
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Community College of Beaver County
Community College of Philadelphia
Drexel University
Duquesne University, School of Nursing
Duquesne University, School of Leadership & Professional Advancement
Eastern University
Elizabethtown College
Gwynedd Mercy College
H. John Heinz III College, Carnegie Mellon University
Harrisburg Area Community College
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Johnson College
Keystone College
La Roche College
Lackawanna College
Lebanon Valley College
Lock Haven University
Mansfield University
Montgomery County Community College
Mount Aloysius College
Peirce College
Penn State Harrisburg
Penn State World Campus
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Philadelphia Biblical University
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc
Pittsburgh Technical Institute
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Saint Vincent College
Seton Hill University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
South University
Susquehanna University
Temple University
Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University (MBA)
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
The Wescoe School of Muhlenberg College
Thiel College
Triangle Tech Inc-Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown
University of Scranton
Villanova University
Washington & Jefferson College
Waynesburg University
Wilson College
York College of Pennsylvania
RHODE ISLAND
Community College of Rhode Island
Johnson & Wales University
Providence College School of Continuing Education
Rhode Island College
Roger Williams University
Salve Regina University
University of Rhode Island
SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston Southern University
Claflin University
Coker College
Florence-Darlington Technical College
Greenville Technical College
Limestone College
Midlands Technical College
Newberry College
Northeastern Technical College
Piedmont Technical College
Southern Wesleyan University
Spartanburg Community College
Tri-County Technical College
Trident Technical College
University of South Carolina Upstate
University of South Carolina, Moore School of Business
University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Sumter
SOUTH DAKOTA
Dakota Wesleyan University
Kilian Community College
Mitchell Technical Institute
Northern State University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Western Dakota Technical Institute
TENNESSEE
Argosy University – Nashville
Austin Peay State University
East Tennessee State University
King College
LeMoyne-Owen College
Martin Methodist College
Milligan College
North Central Institute
Northeast State Community College
Roane State Community College
Tennessee Temple University
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Vanderbilt University
Watkins College of Art, Design & Film
TEXAS
Abilene Christian University
Amarillo College
Angelo State University
Arlington Baptist College
Baptist University of the Américas
Brazosport College
CCI Training Center
Central Texas College
College of the Mainland
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas County Community College District
Grayson County College
Hallmark College of Technology, Hallmark College of Aeronautics
Hardin-Simmons University
Houston Community College
Howard Payne University
LeTourneau University
Lubbock Christian University
Northwest Vista College
Paris Junior College
Prairie View A & M University
Ranger College
Richland College
Sam Houston State University
San Antonio College
San Jacinto College
Schreiner University
Southwestern Adventist University
St. Philip’s College
Stephen F. Austin State University
Sul Ross State University
Tarleton State University
Texas A & M University
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A & M University-Texarkana
Texas A&M University – College Station
Charleston State University
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Texas Christian University
Texas Southern University
Texas State Technical College Harlingen
Texas State Technical College-Marshall
Texas State University-San Marcos
Texas Tech University and Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
Texas Woman’s University
The Art Institute of Houston
The University of Texas, at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
Trinity Valley Community College
University of Houston
University of Houston – Downtown
University of North Texas, Health Science Center
University of the Incarnate Word
Virginia College at Austin
Wayland Baptist University
Western Texas College
UTAH
Neumont University
Salt Lake Community College
Southern Utah University
Stevens Henager College-Logan
The University of Utah
Utah State University
Utah Valley University
Weber State University
Westminster College
VERMONT
College of St. Joseph
Community College of Vermont
New England Culinary Institute
University of Vermont
Vermont Law School
VIRGINIA
Aviation Institute of Maintenance
Central Virginia Community College
Dabney S Lancaster Community College
ECPI College of Technology
Emory and Henry College
George Mason University
Hampden-Sydney College
James Madison University
John Tyler Community College
Liberty University
Lord Fairfax Community College
Marymount University
National College-Salem
Norfolk State University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
Regent University
Roanoke College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Stratford University
Strayer University
Thomas Nelson Community College
Tidewater Community College
Troy University
Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Wesleyan College
WASHINGTON
Argosy University Seattle
Bellevue College
Cascadia Community College
Central Washington University
City University of Seattle
Clover Park Technical College
Eastern Washington University
Edmonds Community College
Green River Community College
Heritage University
Lake Washington Technical College
North Seattle Community College
Northwest Aviation College
Olympic College
Pacific Lutheran University
Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom
Pierce College Military Program
Saint Martin’s University
Skagit Valley College
South Puget Sound Community College
Spokane Falls Community College
Tacoma Community College
The Art Institute of Seattle
Washington State University
Washington State University, Graduate School
Whatcom Community College
WASHINGTON D.C.
American University
The Catholic University of America
The George Washington University
WEST VIRGINIA
Appalachian Bible College
Glenville State College
Marshall University
Mountain State University
University of Charleston
West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport
West Virginia University
Wheeling Jesuit University
WISCONSIN
Blackhawk Technical College
Bryant and Stratton College
Carroll University
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College
Lawrence University
Madison Area Technical College
Madison Media Institute
Marian University-Wisconsin
Marquette University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Silver Lake College
St. Norbert College
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
University of Wisconsin-Stout
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Western Technical College
WYOMING
Eastern Wyoming College
University of Wyoming
Western Wyoming Community College

That’s probably a gross oversimplification, but those are certainly some of the elements on display at the Navy’s Command Center of the Future, a prototype project currently under way at the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific here.

For those not familiar with SPAWAR, it is a Navy laboratory tasked with “creating an unfair advantage for our war fighters,” according to Jim Fallin, the facility’s director of communications, that designs “systems, infrastructure, sensors and the means needed to create a fully netted combat force that operates and interlaces all the domains of warfare, from seabed to space.”

With clients and partners that include the U.S. Army, Marines, and Air Force, as well as many universities and other institutions, SPAWAR is a growing–and hiring–research institution that aims to give America’s military services “the ability to disrupt any adversary’s ability to conduct warfare.”

And given that these are the guys recently tasked with reworking the White House’s famous Situation Room, they also seem like the right ones to take the traditional military command center–with huge rooms, row after row after row of desks with computers and huge video screens–and flip such environments on their head. In other words, SPAWAR has nothing short of a major assignment on its hands: to build the kind of center that will best serve the soldiers and decision makers of the future, all while minimizing the physical space necessary for such rooms and maximizing the use of technology.

Showcasing the technology of the future
The Command Center of the Future (CCoF), which has had a budget so far of a couple of hundred thousand dollars, first opened its doors just four months ago and is clearly not yet finished. But given that it’s a prototype of the kinds of military action centers that are likely to be in use five or ten years down the line, it’s probably best that the SPAWAR folks not rush to finish their work.

Upon entering what turns out to be a pretty small room deep inside a nondescript SPAWAR office building, visitors are greeted initially by a wall of military insignia and then by a dimly-lit, quiet, room with gleaming glass walls and banks of video screens installed behind the glass.

According to my host, SPAWAR research engineer Jeff Clarkson, who is leading the project, the CCoF has as one of its main purposes the highlighting and showcasing of the technologies of the future.

Notwithstanding the visit of a CNET News reporter, the typical visitor since the doors to the CCoF opened four months ago have included VIPs like Navy admirals, the secretary of the Navy, the chief of Naval Operations, and others eager to see the kinds of facilities likely to be featured on warships and in Department of Defense facilities a few years from now.

And the idea behind this room–which is far from operational–is to convey, in its small space, what a future command center may well look like, Clarkson said.

One clear goal of the CCoF is to show how military decision makers no longer need to be together in a single room in order to work on actionable intelligence, make strategic decisions, or communicate with subordinate personnel around the world. Rather, the room is designed to bring together those who need to be involved in discussions surrounding specific military engagements, regardless of whether they’re local. Indeed, the room’s very mission statement is to make it possible to rely on video teleconferencing and artificial intelligence in such meetings.

And while the CCoF is still in its early stages–its many video screens are still tuned to cable news channels rather than remote Navy locations–Clarkson and his team are hopeful that they will soon move to the next stage and build into the room the technologies that will showcase just how the people who will use it will interact with the tools of the future.

For example, while the video screens today are nothing more than TVs with shiny glass covers, they will soon feature multitouch overlays that will mean many of the glass surfaces will allow decision makers to manipulate data and other information simply by running their fingers over the glass, much as users of iPhones do today.

Similarly, while it’s still in a presentation stage, the CCoF will be used for things like mocking up Flash representations of the control system of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) so that decision makers can see how much control they have over such assets from far across the world.

‘The art of the possible’
Just after entering the room, visitors notice an area that is separated from the main space by its own set of glass walls. In normal circumstances, this is where to place junior staff members in front of a couple of computers.

But the idea behind this sub-room is to give decision makers a private, secure, place to go for classified discussions. And while it might initially be counter-intuitive to have such discussions in what at first appears much like a fish tank, Clarkson explained that in fact, that room is designed with glass that can automatically turn dark, as well as sound-proofing that can make it entirely secure.

And the point of this, Clarkson continued, is to make it possible for such senior officials to be able to huddle together for highly sensitive discussions without having to leave the command center, saving a great deal of time for everyone involved.

To be sure, this room inside this San Diego building is by no means a final product. In fact, even when future command centers are being constructed, they will likely have an infinite number of sizes and configurations that will match their surroundings: smaller rooms on Navy ships and larger ones inside Department of Defense buildings, Clarkson said.

But for now, as military VIPs show up to see the prototype, the idea is really to give them a sense of “the art of the possible,” as Fallin put it.

Changing mission needs
Clarkson said that one of the major focuses of the CCoF is to prove that such an environment can be flexible and adaptable to “changing mission needs.”

That means that the rooms need to be easily reconfigurable, something that is clear in how it was set up during my visit. On one side of the room, a group of eight chairs was set up as a place for seating junior staff while senior officials put their heads together at the main round-table.

But that configuration was just one way for the room to be presented, Clarkson said. And anyway, many of those who would take place in the kinds of discussions that would be centered in the room would be at remote locations, communicating via teleconference.

Yet Clarkson said even such virtual communication would be aided by the latest technologies. One such advance would be an implementation of artificial intelligence that would display, on the appropriate screens on the glass walls, documents being talked about by those on the screens.

In other words, Clarkson said, the CCoF would have AI meant to discern what is being talked about during a teleconference and to know how to source up whatever documents are needed as they’re needed.

At the same time, the technology could also keep track of those on-screen and show, for the benefit of those in the room, little heads-up displays (HUDs) that identify each on-screen speaker.

And while the command centers of the future may be needed by senior officials to set strategy during specific action, they are also likely to be manned 24/7 by junior officials making sure that proper communications with supporting organizations are always under way.

Ultimately, Clarkson said, the state-of-the-art in command center workflow theory is built around the idea of flow. He explained that research has shown that decision makers think better if they can move around while they talk and that’s why the CCoF here has been designed to allow such senior officials to walk and talk and never lose sight of those they’re communicating with. In the past, by comparison, the experience has been much more sedentary, with officials coming in and sitting down at a table the entire time.

“We want to create a sense of guests and hosts being able to walk (around) together and still be discussing,” said Clarkson. “They still have security and still have information, and they can look up something if (they) need it.”

And while the command center of the past–like, say, the alternate command center of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)–has traditionally been a basketball court-size space with endless rows of desks, Clarkson said he hopes that the work being done on the CCoF will demonstrate that in the wars of the future, what’s really needed is technology to bring dispersed people together so that they can discuss the important topics of the day, no matter where they are.

“We’re just trying to show what’s possible,” Clarkson said, “what’s coming down the pipeline, and what we envision the future to be.”

Written by Daniel Terdiman, http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10362933-52.html.