180201-N-XM324-119 MONTEREY, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2018) Lt. Christopher Tang, right, gives Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Richard V. Spencer a tour of the Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS)Material Sciences Laboratory. The mission of NPS is to provide relevant and unique advanced education and research programs to increase the combat effectiveness of commissioned officers of the Naval Service to enhance the security of the United States. In support of the foregoing, and to sustain academic excellence, NPS and the DON foster and encourage a program of relevant and meritorious research which both supports the needs of Navy and Department of Defense while building the intellectual capital of Naval Postgraduate School faculty. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Patrick Dionne/Released)