MIDDLETOWN - Engineering, software and technology company Rite-Solutions Inc. will partner with the University of Rhode Island to carry out a $2 million contract for the U.S. Office of Naval Research, the business announced on Thursday. The contract will support the office's Advancing Research on Cyber-Physical Systems Security and Resilience in a Naval Environment initiative, which Rite-Solutions says will require the design and implementation of new models to improve system performance and cybersecurity measures. The three-year commitment will support Rite-Solutions in developing a cybersecurity workforce initiative, and fund two Rite-Solutions employees in their doctoral studies at URI. In the announcement, Rite-Solutions executives said the contract will support building a military workforce and cyber initiatives. "Cyber-Physical Systems assurance is a rapidly expanding technology area, and we are excited about using our technical expertise to conduct research in this area to build cyber solutions for the warfighter and develop the next generation cyber workforce," Rite-Solutions Chief Technology Officer Tim Arcano said in a statement. Jacquelyn Voghel is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at [email protected].