Overview

The Space Nuclear Command, Control & Communications (NC3) Certificate is comprised of four courses. Upon successful completion of the course work, students will be awarded a certificate of completion in keeping with standard practices of the Naval Postgraduate School. The Space NC3 Certificate supports objectives corresponding to required space, ground and classified elements of USAF Global Strike Command’s strategic Nuclear education components. This certificate is a distance learning, asynchronous education program that covers satellite technology and communication fundamentals relevant to U.S. strategic nuclear operations, deterrence and assurance.

The Space Nuclear Command, Control & Communications Certificate is a 12-month, part-time program, with one course offered per quarter for four consecutive quarters, delivered asynchronously using web-based instruction with classified content instruction using SIPRNet. The web-based courses are paced week-to-week by the instructors, but students have great flexibility to do coursework at times of their choosing during each week.

The US NC3 system is extraordinarily complex and wholly unique. The Space Nuclear Command, Control & Communications (NC3) Certificate is designed to give students a basic foundation to understand Space capabilities and their integration into the U.S. NC3 architecture involving networks, sensors and communication fundamentals relevant to U.S. strategic nuclear operations, deterrence and assurance. The students will understand various nuclear systems and communication nodes to the technical level. Upon completion students will understand the NC3 system basic modes of operation in various scenarios (such as peace time vs conflict). Students will be equipped to make informed recommendations regarding future NC3 system updates based on accepted design principles, past lessons learned, evolving deterrence needs, and new technology.

The Space NC3 Certificate program can be delivered virtually anywhere to any qualified applicant who has access to both Internet and SIPRNet systems.

Security clearance: Secret

Courses required

Included in degrees & certificates

• 738

Eligibility

The following are eligible for this offering:

• Naval Officers
• Naval Enlisted
• Non-Naval Officers
• Non-Naval Enlisted
• DON Civilians
• DOD Civilians
• Defense Contractors
• Non-DOD Federal Employees

Prerequisites

• A baccalaureate degree with above-average grades
• Completion of college-level Algebra 2 and college-level physics with a C or better average
• Secret security clearance

Application Information

Applications are handled by the NPS Admissions Office. Please visit the admissions website or contact them at admissions@nps.edu.

Tuition & Service Obligation

For specific tuition information for this offering, please visit this offering’s More Information page.

For information regarding service obligation, please visit the Admissions Office’s Eligibility/Service Obligation page.

Other Information

Program Announcements

Space Nuclear Command, Control & Communications Certificate Program

Commencing week of 5 July 2023