California State University, San Bernardino and the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, recently signed a major Education Partnership Agreement aimed at supporting innovation, job growth and increasing opportunities for students.

The ceremony on May 5 at the University Enterprises Corporation board room brought together CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales and Navy Capt. Joseph Burgon, commanding officer at NSWC Corona, who formally signed the agreement.

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales and Navy Capt. Joseph Burgon with the signed Education Partnership Agreement.
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales and Navy Capt. Joseph Burgon with the signed Education Partnership Agreement.

They were joined by Anna Long, professor of entrepreneurship; Mike Stull, director of CSUSB’s School of Entrepreneurship; Tomás Gomez-Arias, dean of the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration; Marisa V. Yeager, associate vice president for Government, Tribal and Community Relations; and a representative from U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff’s office — reflecting strong regional and national support for this significant partnership.

This new alliance is meant to strengthen the Inland Empire’s innovation and economic growth. It will create more internships, research opportunities and support for new businesses. By working closely with the Navy, CSUSB is now a key partner in defense innovation, workforce development and advancing technologies from research to practical application.

The agreement will also connect the School of Entrepreneurship and the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship with the Navy, giving students and faculty more opportunities to work on applied research and bolster the region’s economic growth.

The Education Partnership Agreement will link CSUSB’s School of Entrepreneurship and the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship with the Navy, creating more opportunities for students and faculty to engage in applied research and help drive the region’s economic growth.
The Education Partnership Agreement will link CSUSB’s School of Entrepreneurship and the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship with the Navy, creating more opportunities for students and faculty to engage in applied research and help drive the region’s economic growth.

Key highlights of the agreement include:

  • Technology Transfer and Commercialization: The agreement creates a structured pathway for translating defense-related research into commercial applications, accelerating innovation and startup formation/retention within the Inland Empire.
  • Regional Ecosystem Growth: The collaboration aligns with ongoing efforts to position the Inland Empire as a hub for defense/dual-use technology, entrepreneurship and applied research, leveraging partnerships with San Bernardino and Riverside counties, IECE and industry stakeholders.
  • Workforce Development and STEM Engagement: CSUSB students and faculty will gain access to hands-on research application opportunities, internships and mentorship programs with Navy STEM professionals, ensuring a stronger talent pipeline in advanced technologies and its commercialization outcomes.

The partnership will provide students with real-world experience through internships and mentorship programs. It will also strengthen ties between CSUSB, the business community and the U.S. Navy, helping new ideas turn into real businesses and products.

"This agreement represents the culmination of years of relationship building and hard work by both the Navy and CSUSB and provides a formal platform on which we will collectively build new and exciting opportunities that will develop and strengthen our local innovation ecosystem," said Stull. "Our team in the School of Entrepreneurship is excited to take this already formidable partnership to the next level."