Indian Head, Md. –
Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD) announces its new name, Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD). The name change reflects not only an alignment with its other warfare center counterparts, but also better represents the broader scope of activities at the command.
The command is the only warfare center that included a function in its title, a result of the 2013 merger of then two separate Warfare Center Divisions (Indian Head and EOD Technology). Each of the other nine warfare centers are named only after their geographic location.
“An unforeseen consequence of our old ‘merged’ name was that it gave a limited impression that the only activity at the command is EOD. While our name was obviously inclusive to that mission, it excluded many of the other capabilities at the command such as cartridge actuated devices and propellant actuated devices; chemical, biological and radiological defense; energetics systems engineering; research, development, test, and evaluation; and production,” said NSWC IHD Technical Director Ashley Johnson.
“This name change does not change our staffing or dedication to our critical EOD Department mission. It does not change who we are as a command. We are still the Navy’s premier facility for ordnance, energetics and EOD solutions. What does change is the streamlining of our name to align with the rest of our NAVSEA family, and an expansion of the perception to external entities of our command as a whole,” said NSWC IHD Commanding Officer and Deputy Executive Manager for DoD EOD Technology Capt. Scott Kraft.
The command has the largest workforce in the DoD dedicated to EOD and energetics and is home to more than 2,000 employees, approximately 70 of which hold doctorates. NSWC IHD also has eight detachments including sites in Picatinny, N.J.; Rock Island, Ill.; McAlester, Okla; Ogden, Utah and employees stationed throughout the world. The command’s unique synergy and balanced capabilities address all aspects of the energetic technical discipline to include basic research, applied technology and technology demonstration, and prototyping.
NSWC IHD — a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command and part of the Navy's Science and Engineering Establishment — is the leader in ordnance, energetics, and EOD solutions. The Division focuses on energetics research, development, testing, evaluation, in-service support, and disposal; and provides warfighters solutions to detect, locate, access, identify, render safe, recover, exploit, and dispose of explosive ordnance threats.
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