U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Dylan Bruns will graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Sept. 25, after completing the Electronics Systems Engineering program, where his research explored how virtual models can help engineers better understand and test military power systems before units rely on them in the field. 

Bruns moved frequently growing up and claims Greenwood, Indiana, as his hometown, where he graduated high school.  

At NPS, Bruns built a digital twin of a microgrid, a compact power system that provides electricity to specific areas or facilities. He compared the digital model with measurements from a working microgrid to see how closely the virtual system reflected the real one. 

“A better ability to model and test these systems can help engineers understand how they will perform before relying on them in operational environments,” Bruns said. 

Bruns leveraged NPS faculty expertise and advanced equipment to connect the virtual side of his research with the kind of equipment engineers would work with on the field. Through that work, he saw how microgrids could address power challenges well beyond the military. 

“Power demand is increasing while much of our electrical infrastructure is aging,” Bruns said. “Microgrids provide an actionable path toward integrating technologies such as renewable energy while also localizing power production for critical infrastructure, whether that is a military installation, a hospital or another facility that cannot afford to lose power.” 

Following graduation, Bruns will report to Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia, where he will work with mid-range intercept capabilities. 

“I expect I will have a great deal to learn when I arrive, but NPS has given me a strong enough technical foundation to understand the systems, ask better questions, and speak the same language as the experts I will be working with,” Bruns said. 

Located in Monterey, California, NPS is a naval command and graduate university that provides defense-focused education and research, preparing students to return to the fleet and force with knowledge they can apply to military challenges.