---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 926"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "926"
heading: "Center of Excellence for Maritime Domain Awareness"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/926"
units:
  - "Chapter 3 — Security and Accountability for Every Port"
  - "Subchapter I — Security of United States Seaports"
  - "Part B — Port Operations"
---

# §926. Center of Excellence for Maritime Domain Awareness

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) shall establish a university-based [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) for Excellence for Maritime Domain Awareness following the merit-review processes and procedures that have been established by the [Secretary](/usc/6/901.md?p=15) for selecting university program [centers](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) of excellence.
- (b) **Duties—** The [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) established under [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) prioritize its activities based on the “National Plan To Improve Maritime Domain Awareness” published by the [Department](/usc/6/901.md?p=7) in October 2005;
  - (2) recognize the extensive previous and ongoing work and existing competence in the field of maritime domain awareness at numerous academic and research institutions, such as the Naval Postgraduate School;
  - (3) leverage existing knowledge and continue development of a broad base of expertise within academia and industry in maritime domain awareness; and
  - (4) provide educational, technical, and analytical assistance to [Federal agencies](/usc/6/677a.md?p=4) with responsibilities for maritime domain awareness, including the Coast Guard, to focus on the need for interoperability, information sharing, and common information technology standards and architecture.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–347, title I, § 128, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1900.)