FleetWorks asks Monterey County for staff support to link local businesses with Naval Postgraduate School technology
May 29, 2026 | Monterey County, California
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FleetWorks Innovation Hub asked the Monterey County Economic Development Committee May 29 for a letter of support and local outreach to help more county businesses access technology and testing at the Naval Postgraduate School.
"For every dollar we get of DSA funding, we are able to leverage three to four dollars of federal and state funding," said Jeff Ruster, executive director of the Monterey County Business Council, during the meeting's public-comment period, urging continued county partnership. Morgan Bauer, FleetWorks' innovation hub director, described three primary services: licensing NPS-developed technologies, access to field-test sites such as Camp Roberts and Lake San Antonio, and partnership opportunities that include small grants and technical assistance.
Bauer said FleetWorks was established in June 2023 and currently supports about a dozen funded projects totaling roughly $13 million since 2023. She said local uptake has been limited and that only two Monterey County businesses currently use NPS assets; most recipients come from outside the county. Bauer described low-barrier proposal requirements (a three-page limit), free confidential cyber and radio-frequency vulnerability assessments offered quarterly, and an August field experiment open to sign-ups at Camp Roberts.
Committee members asked how many county firms were using FleetWorks services and about workforce and education collaborations. Bauer said FleetWorks partners with CSUMB and Hartnell on internships and training, and is pursuing federal funding for machining and prototyping boot camps. She also requested a memorandum of understanding or a letter of support to aid contract renewals with NPS and to demonstrate local government backing when seeking congressional or federal appropriations.
The committee gave unanimous direction to staff to draft a support letter and return it for formal inclusion on a future consent agenda. The direction was recorded as committee consensus; the item was not agendized as a formal action at this meeting.
"For every dollar we get of DSA funding, we are able to leverage three to four dollars of federal and state funding," said Jeff Ruster, executive director of the Monterey County Business Council, during the meeting's public-comment period, urging continued county partnership. Morgan Bauer, FleetWorks' innovation hub director, described three primary services: licensing NPS-developed technologies, access to field-test sites such as Camp Roberts and Lake San Antonio, and partnership opportunities that include small grants and technical assistance.
Bauer said FleetWorks was established in June 2023 and currently supports about a dozen funded projects totaling roughly $13 million since 2023. She said local uptake has been limited and that only two Monterey County businesses currently use NPS assets; most recipients come from outside the county. Bauer described low-barrier proposal requirements (a three-page limit), free confidential cyber and radio-frequency vulnerability assessments offered quarterly, and an August field experiment open to sign-ups at Camp Roberts.
Committee members asked how many county firms were using FleetWorks services and about workforce and education collaborations. Bauer said FleetWorks partners with CSUMB and Hartnell on internships and training, and is pursuing federal funding for machining and prototyping boot camps. She also requested a memorandum of understanding or a letter of support to aid contract renewals with NPS and to demonstrate local government backing when seeking congressional or federal appropriations.
The committee gave unanimous direction to staff to draft a support letter and return it for formal inclusion on a future consent agenda. The direction was recorded as committee consensus; the item was not agendized as a formal action at this meeting.
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