Research Dossier · 2026
Kurt Pasque
Operations Research · Mathematical Machine Learning · Decision Systems
I work at the intersection of mathematical machine learning, optimization, and decision systems. My research focuses on tropical geometry and neural algorithmic reasoning; my applied work turns analytics and AI into decision support for high-stakes operational environments.
U.S. Navy officer · Data Scientist, Naval Education and Training Command · Research Collaborator, Naval Postgraduate School
Current Focus
-
Tropical & Geometric ML
Using tropical geometry and related mathematical structure as inductive biases for robust and structured learning.
-
Neural Algorithmic Reasoning
Studying reasoning architectures that exploit problem structure rather than relying only on generic sequence modeling.
-
Scientific ML
Extending structured neural methods to phylogenetic inference and other scientific problems with non-Euclidean geometry.
-
Decision Systems
Combining optimization, simulation, data products, and AI-enabled analysis to support operational decisions.
Selected Research
-
Phylogenetic Tree Inference with Tropical Axial Attention
Tropical axial attention for learning phylogenetic distance structure from multi-species sequence alignments. Code.
-
Tropical Attention: Neural Algorithmic Reasoning for Combinatorial Algorithms
Introduces tropical attention as a structured alternative to standard attention for neural algorithmic reasoning.
-
Adversarially robust neural network decision boundaries via tropical geometry
Connects tropical-geometric structure in neural decision boundaries with empirical adversarial robustness.
-
Tropical Geometry in Neural Networks: A Novel Defense against Adversarial Attack
Foundational thesis work on tropical representations of neural networks and adversarial defense.
Selected Work
-
Universal Reasoning Models
Experimental work on recursive reasoning architectures and tropical-attention variants for challenging reasoning benchmarks. Repository.
-
Tropical Axial Attention Reproduction Pipeline
End-to-end research code for simulation, model inference, tree construction, evaluation, and experiment aggregation in neural phylogenetics. Repository.
-
Eval First Draft + FitRep First Draft
Built and released lightweight AI-assisted drafting tools with front-end workflows, API-backed generation pipelines, and iterative reliability improvements from user feedback. Eval First Draft · FitRep First Draft.
-
Naval Postgraduate School Return on Investment Analysis
Developed quantitative metrics to communicate educational ROI to Department of Defense stakeholders. Repository.
Background
Experience
-
Data Scientist · Naval Education and Training Command
Leads AI integration programs, training modernization efforts, and data products supporting senior-level decisions.
-
Research Collaborator · Naval Postgraduate School
Research in tropical geometry, neural algorithmic reasoning, and experimental reasoning architectures.
-
Division Officer · U.S. Navy Pay and Personnel Support Center
Built UiPath automations for back-office workflows and led transition activities from legacy systems to Salesforce CRM.
Education
-
Naval Postgraduate School · M.S., Operations Research
-
United States Naval Academy · B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Recognition & Certifications
-
Research Recognition
INFORMS Military & Security Society Donald P. Gaver, Jr. Thesis Research Award winner (2025) · MORS Stephen A. Tisdale Graduate Research Prize finalist.
-
Professional Credentials
Certified Analytics Professional-Expert · Professional in Human Resources · UiPath Certified Advanced RPA Developer · Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.