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Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering students apply scientific principles in the design and improvement of mechanical and energy/power systems. Students are challenged with design problems that provide opportunities for developing creativity in solving real-world problems. The Mechanical Engineering major provides a solid foundation for service as a Coast Guard Officer, professional engineering practice and further graduate study in the field.

  • Practical problem solving emphasizes Coast Guard applications
  • Program culminates with a hands-on capstone design project
  • The Mechanical Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Areas of Study

The Mechanical Engineering curriculum starts with a solid grounding in the engineering sciences and progresses toward mechanical engineering courses. Classes involve hands-on and real-world examples from industry and the Coast Guard fleet.

Course series include:

  • Thermodynamics – Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Thermal Systems Design
  • Machine Design – Mechanical Engineering Design, Mechanisms or Dynamics of Machines, Machine Design
  • Controls – Electric Circuits and Machines, Controls, Mechatronics

Resources

Students have access to sophisticated equipment, including 3D printers; computer numerical control (CNC) machine; and laser cutter. Standard mechanical shop tools include: lathes, drill presses, belt sanders and more.

FACTS AND FIGURES
0 %
of seniors in Mechanical Engineering who took the Fundamentals of Engineering professional exam passed on the first try
> 0
More than 35 cadets and faculty, from all Academy STEM majors, have participated in the National Labs and/or Sandia Laboratories summer internship
1/2/ 3
scholars
Alumni in the major include 1 Truman and 2 Fulbright Scholars, and 3 current Academy rotating military faculty members
> 0 %
More than 80% of engineering graduates of the Academy earn graduate degrees

Featured Cadets

Meet our cadets and hear from these leaders how transformative an Academy education can be.

Alex Broomfield
Duluth, Georgia
Class of 2019
Huston Helwig
Goldsboro, Maryland
Class of 2019
Anita Jada Green
Clermont, Florida
Class of 2019

Featured Graduates

Cassandra Hawley
Class of 2014
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Drew Stafford
Class of 2014
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Melissa Barrett
Class of 2016
B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Contact Information

School of Engineering and Cyber Systems
Prof. Ron Adrezin, Ph.D., PE
Department Head and Program Chair
Ronald.S.Adrezin@uscga.edu
(860) 444-8539

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

  1. If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  2. If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  3. If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  4. If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  5. All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.

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