The University of Rhode Island, Ocean Engineering Department and Graduate School of Oceanography have formed a Center of Excellence in Undersea Technology (COEUT). COEUT was officially designated as a URI Center of Excellence on February 8, 2006. The center will perform both basic and applied research focused on the design, development, testing, and implementation of a wide variety of undersea technologies that support both military and civilian applications. Research areas will include distributed network systems for ocean and sea floor monitoring, ocean sensors and instrumentation, distributed sensor systems, autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles, and underwater communication, detection, and classification systems; among others. The center will also foster the education and development of the next generation of undersea technology engineers and scientists. The center will allow the University to capitalize on its world-class intellectual strengths, experience, and unique facilities for marine science and engineering.