Hugo Neu Corporation Sustainability Seminar Series: Sustainability Initiatives in the Defense Industry

ABSTRACT

As climate risks intensify and energy systems evolve, the defense industry faces a dual mandate: maintain mission readiness while materially reducing environmental impact across complex, security-sensitive supply chains. This lecture surveys the sustainability initiatives reshaping defense primes, subcontractors, and government customers—highlighting where decarbonization aligns with operational advantage and where tradeoffs require explicit governance.

We will examine the main levers of change: energy resilience and microgrids at installations; electrification and efficiency in ground support and non-tactical fleets; sustainable aviation fuel and propulsion research; low-carbon materials, additive manufacturing, and circularity for high-value components; water stewardship and remediation at legacy sites; and climate-informed risk management for facilities, logistics, and global sourcing. Special attention is given to the unique constraints of defense (classification, export controls, safety certification, long platform lifecycles, and stringent reliability standards) and how these shape credible targets, metrics, and timelines. The lecture also maps the emerging policy and procurement environment—including supplier emissions reporting, life-cycle assessment, and “sustainability as capability”—and offers a practical framework for integrating sustainability into program management without diluting performance, cost, or security requirements.

Attendees will leave with a clear, defensible understanding of what “good” looks like in defense sustainability today, common pitfalls (greenwashing, boundary errors, and misaligned incentives), and actionable approaches to move from compliance to measurable operational and strategic value.

BIOGRAPHY

Nicholas DAmbrosio, Ph.D., GISP is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of NOMADICS, a nationally recognized firm specializing in geospatial intelligence, data analytics, and defense engineering. An outcome-driven leader, GIS specialist, defense engineering subject matter expert, award-winning educator, and published

author, Nicholas, has spent nearly twenty years delivering advanced data and technology solutions for the public, private, and defense sectors.

Since founding NOMADICS in 2006 as Nomad Geomatics and rebranding as The Nomad Group in 2012, Nicholas has transformed the company from an environmental and construction services firm into a trusted digital intelligence and defense engineering provider supporting decision-makers across defense, academia, and industry. Under his leadership, NOMADICS has contributed to high-profile projects including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, FEMA’s Hurricane Irma response, and real-time COVID-19 dashboards under Operation Warp Speed for the Department

of Homeland Security. Nicholas holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Management, masters’ degrees in both Environmental Policy Studies and Sustainability Science, and is credentialed as a GISP (Geographic Information Systems Professional). A subject matter expert in unmanned combat systems since 2012, he also serves as a specialist defense contractor supporting the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research. As an adjunct faculty member, Nicholas has taught GIS, environmental, and engineering courses at the graduate and undergraduate level for Seton Hall University, Rutgers University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Montclair State University ,

County College of Morris, and Passaic County Community College. Through NOMADICS, he continues to partner with universities to provide students with hands-on experience and real-world learning opportunities.

A recognized keynote speaker and thought leader, Nicholas has received numerous honors, including the Garden State Green Award - Professor of the Year (2014), ANJEC Environmental Achievement Award (2017), and recognition among the MSN Business Entrepreneurs of 2025 and the Military Engineer Faces of Federal Business 2025.

Zoom Link:

Website:

https://www.stevens.edu/sustainability-seminar-series

Jointly Sponsored by:

HUGO NEU Corporation
WSP
HDR
NOMADICS
Brown and Caldwell
H2M Architects and Engineers
Lozier Inc.
Dewberry

Contact:

Dr. Dibs Sarkar