Lt. Angelia O’Toole graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in December 2022 with a Master of Science Degree in Astronautical Engineering, a certificate in Trajectory Optimization, and a certificate in Robotics Engineering. Upon Graduation from NPS, O'Toole was awarded both the Chief of Naval Research Award for Excellence in Robotics and Autonomous Systems Research and the Astronaut Michael J. Smith and Astronaut William C. McCool Astronautics Award, both of which recognize academic excellence and career potential. A native of Los Angeles, she graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2014 and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a concentration in Robotics. At sea, she received her surface warfare qualification while serving as Combat Electronics Officer aboard USS Green Bay (LPD 20). There she completed multiple 7th Fleet Patrols with the 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11. She served her second tour embarked as the ship’s Navigator for Gold Crew aboard USS Detroit (LCS 7). In 2019, she Navigated during Detroit’s maiden deployment in the 4th Fleet.
O’Toole’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), and various service and campaign awards. Her family includes her husband, Sean, of Forth Worth, TX.
What was impactful for me from my studies at NPS is the knowledge gained, the relationships made, and the opportunities that have opened up for me as a naval officer.
During my time at NPS, I had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of topics, including digital technologies and autonomous systems. Through ongoing projects I saw the promising ability for autonomous networks to help shape current and future battlespaces by providing large data sets to advance warfighters’ abilities to find, fix, and target in increasingly smaller footprints. Smaller technologies mean more warfare diversity as what could only be used in a building yesterday, can be used on a ship today, and can be used by a soldier in the field tomorrow.
NPS' Space program introduces the warfighter to an important theater that rarely gets talked about, but plays a large role in the fleet. National interest in space is growing and as a result, national security and warfare will need to grow with it.
