PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The United States Navy is a world leader in advanced technology and right now, they’re recruiting top engineers to help build the fleet of the future. That fleet will include electric-powered boats and ships…big and small. Four years ago, the Navy started a program called the, “Promoting Electric Propulsion” competition or P.E.P. The Navy has challenged the top engineering students around the country to build electric boats and they recently gathered to compete against each other in the waters off First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach.