Captain Smith relieves Captain Patterson at NSWC Dahlgren Division Change of Command
July 9, 2010
DAHLGREN, Va. - Capt. Michael Smith assumed command of Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division, relieving Capt. Sheila Patterson on July 9, 2010 as they stood beside a 16-inch naval gun during a Change of Command ceremony at the Naval Support Facility Dahlgren parade field.
"I pledge to do everything possible to support you as you do what you've proven to be so capable at doing - being the technical expertise and brain trust of the Navy's warfare systems," Smith told over 700 employees watching the ceremony in person or on their computers via a live broadcast.
The ceremony also marked Patterson's retirement following 28 years of naval service. Reflecting on the command's accomplishments during her three-year tenure, she commended NSWC Dahlgren Division personnel for achievemnets impacting a wide-range of programs.
"The strength of Dahlgren Divison lies in its people from the technical director and board of directors to the scientists, engineers and technicians in our technical departments to our business professionals throughout the command," said Patterson. It lies in our relationships with our sponsor, our customers and partners, and our leadership."
Highlighting a few of "Dahlgren's many accomplishments," Patterson recounted a myriad of milestones in the Joint Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, Electromagnetic Railgun; Littoral Combat System Surface Warfare Mission Package; Navy Expeditionary Overwatch System; Shipboard Protection System, Hydra Hunter Joint Force Protection, Strategic and Weapon Control Systems, and Laser Weapon System, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Gunslinger and Asymmetric Defense systems Programs.
NSWC Commander Rear Adm. James Shannon, the event's principal speaker, compared Patterson's career and her command of NSWC Dahlgren Division with the naval service of Rear Adm. John Dahgren, the "Father of American naval ordnance" and inventor of the Dahlgren gun.
"Similar to the Dahgren Gun, Capt. Patterson opened the doors of the new Naval Directed Energy Center and successfully tracked, engaged and destroyed targets representative of potential threats, validating the military utility of Directed Energy," said Shannon. "Just like Dahlgren conducted cannon firing across the Anacostia River, Sheila led the team in conducting record-setting firings of the Electromagnetic Railgun - next generation weaponry for our 21st century Sailors and Marines."
The NSWC Commander also compared NSWC Dahgren Division's new commander with the legendary civil war admiral known for technological innovations that helped pave the way for today's maritime force.
"I look forward to your (Capt. Smith's) dynamic leadership in taking the NSWC Dahlgren Team to new heights - delivering cutting edge science and engineering to our 21st century warfighter," said Shannon. "You too, follow Commodore Dahlgren's legacy. This is both and honor and privilege that few naval officers can claim."
NSWC Dahlgren Division Technical Director Carl Siel addressed the outgoing and incoming commanders in his welcoing remarks, thanking Capt. Patterson for her leaderhsip and friendship and assuring support for Capt. Smith. "One thing I can say with confidence - you (Capt. Smith) have the commitment of the entire NSWC Dahgren Division workforce behind you," Said Siel.
"The NSWC Dahlgren and Dam Neck Team, NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command), the Engineering Duty Officer community, the Navy and our nation thank you (Capt. Patterson) for your hard work and your tireless dedication," added Shannon. "More importantly, your visible, and empowering leadership style as well as your genuine compassion for the men and women under your command, embodies the definiton of a true leader."
Capt. Smith - who report to NSWC Dahlgren Division from assignment as the deputy program manager for the Zumwalt (DDG-1000) Program at the Navy Yard - also reflected on Patterson's career and achievements.
"Not only has she (Capt. Patterson) done great things working in the various programs that she has been a member of or led - not to mention being the commander here at the Warfare Center in Dahlgren for over three years - but she has tirelessly mentored numerous combat systems- focused engineering duty officers, ensuring that the community has the talent and skills to develop and support the Navy's warfare systems," said Smith. "She has ensured that this important segment of our community is ready today, and what is more, she has groomed future generations of leaders."
Smith's extensive operational and acquisition experience includes tours aboard USS Robison (DDG-12), Supervisor of Shipbuilding Pascagoula; Technical Director for Program Executive Office Ships-Fleet; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Seasparrow Project Office; the DD(X) Program; and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Surface Warfare Directorate in the Pentagon.
The new NSWC Dahlgren Division Commander first enlisted in the Navy in 1976, reaching the rank of Hospital Corpsman Second Class before attending Humboldt State University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Resource Engineering and his commission as an Engineering Duty Officer.
By: John J. Joyce, NSWC Dahlgren Divsion Corporate Communications
Naval Surface Warfare Center Dam Neck Hosts Anti-Piracy Conference
February 23, 2010
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.- an international group of 50 leading scientists, engineers and technologists convened here last week to explore new technological concepts and collaboration initiatives to defeat piracy worldwide.
"Pirates are very adaptable and too often, they win," said NSWC Dam Neck Commanding Officer Captain Steve Kelley who brought a crucial warfighter's perspective to the anti-piracy conference. "This workshop is about finding technology possibilities for sailors at sea - whether in uniform or not."
Participants - form U.S. and International Navies, The U.S. Naval Warfare Centers, industry and academia - shared their insight and expertise to gain a better understanding of the issue and develop improved ways to combat piracy at the Feb. 23 event.
"We are thankful that all of the participants brought us their perspectives, especially the coalition viewpoint," said Ray Campfield, workshop organizer and National Workload Manager. "Anti-piracy solutions are neither nation nor Navy specific. We must continue to work together and include our commerical shipping partners to achieve interoperable, integrated solutions for Navy, coalition and joint forces worldwide."
Navy Warfare Center systems integration experts can now look at diverse viewpoints and ideas to enhance their anti-piracy technological solutions, according to NSWC Dahlgren Division leadership who are planning additional opportunities to keep the anti-piracy dialog going.
"The Navy Warfare Centers need to better understand the issues surrounding piracy and what the Fleet needs today to deal with it so that we may best shape the solutions from a technical standpoint," said Campfield.
The workshop featured a technical exchange between U.K and U.S. Navy engineers.
"We assembled this diverse group of subject matter experts to explore the art of the possible with regard to technology in the world of anti - or counter - piracy," said Captain Kelley, who experienced piracy incidents first hand while stationed in Bahrain as Commander of all Navy at-sea logistics forces in the Middle East at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/CTF-53 last year.
By: Tammy Van Dame, NSWC, Dam Neck
Local Artist Donates Portrait to Presidential Library
August 28, 2009
Before crating her portrait of the former president to ship to the George W. Bush Presidential Library, artist Avis Fluke and representatives of Naval Surface Warfare Center Dam Neck show off the painting one last time. With Fluke are (l-r) former NSWC Dam Neck Commanding Officer Capt. Jon Greene, Technical Director Mark Lucas and NSWC Dam Neck Executive Officer Cmdr. Eric DeWitt. Fluke worked at NSWC Dam Neck from 1981 until her retirement in 2003 and while there, created the portrait from the president’s official photo.
Thirty-five years ago, Avis Fluke’s life was shattered when the young art school graduate was critically injured in a car accident near Richmond. But surviving the accident was perhaps the easiest part of her recovery. The horrific crash left her with both mental and physical handicaps that took many surgeries to repair and years of rehabilitation.
Through dedication and hard work, Fluke slowly relearned and regained the art skills she had before the accident. And now a portrait she painted is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Library collection.
Fluke, a long-time Naval Surface Warfare Center (NWSC) Dam Neck employee, impressed military and civilian staff with her artwork at the command long after her 2003 retirement. Since first reporting to Dam Neck in 1981, when the command was known as Combat Direction Systems Activity (CDSA), Fluke created portraits of commanding officers, important visitors and other artwork as requested, to hang on the walls of CDSA. Nearly a dozen pieces of her artwork, including portraits of rear admirals Grace Hopper and John Dahlgren, are displayed throughout the command.
While most military commands traditionally display an 8 by 10 inch photo of the president, Fluke used her talents to go much further for their quarterdeck. After Bush took office, she used the standard photo to sketch out his likeness and then painted it.
“I’d rather work from a photograph than a live person,” she explained.
As Bush was preparing to leave office at the beginning of this year, it meant NSWC needed to take down his portrait. But another of NWSC’s graphic artists, Linda Sifford, realized that typically a presidential library is established for former presidents and they might be interested in adding Fluke’s portrait to their collection, explained NWSC’s Public Affairs Officer Tammy Van Dame. Sifford, who retired from civil service in August, located the library and was provided with a list of acceptance criteria by the librarian.
After filling out the proper paperwork, at the end of March, “Commander in Chief,” was carefully crated and sent to the library staff. Less than a month later, NSWC Dam Neck received confirmation from Jennifer Schulle, registrar for the library that the “wonderful portrait” had arrived safely and would be added to the artifact collection, along with a thank you for the art. Fluke received official documentation her work was now part of the planned George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, Texas.
Twenty-eight years ago, Fluke obtained the Dam Neck job through the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA). Along with job placement, her rehabilitation included art and photography classes at Tidewater Community College.
She is the first to admit she had a rough time relearning her motor skills and her impatience caused her difficulties at times. Relearning her speech so she could communicate well helped her “calm down a lot” over the years in her job.
“I feel in a certain way that I was lucky that I worked in civil service. It would have been rough in an outside job,” she said about obtaining a job, especially in a field she had trained in before her accident.
While at Dam Neck, Fluke adjusted to creating graphic designs via the computer. “I slowly came to learn to use the computer,” she laughed.
Fluke explained there weren’t many good jobs for those with disabilities during the 1980s. “Things have changed for the better,” she said.
Her favorite artists are Van Gogh and Gauguin and she has studied their works extensively.
Born in Panama, she loved the arts since a child. After moving to the U.S. at age 15, her talent led her to the American Academy of Arts in Chicago. Much of her art reflects her heritage by incorporating bold, warm colors into her work.
Fluke surrounds herself with art that reminds her of her childhood home. She creates abstracts with soft colors and there are also black and white family drawings, along with those of cherished pets.
Although Fluke keeps an extensive portfolio of her favorites, including those that predate her accident, much of her artwork is given away as gifts. At the request of a local family, Fluke is currently working on the portrait, using a favorite photo, of a young woman who died in a car accident.
Over the years, her work has been exhibited at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show and the Distinguished Visual Artists of Hampton Roads Show, along with gallery showings at the Olde Town Gallery in Portsmouth and the Artist’s Gallery in Virginia Beach.
While she may have retired from civil service, Fluke has not retired from her first love — art. Since she spends a great deal of time caring for her 87-year-old mother, a back room has been set up to provide a sunny location for Fluke to continue to sketch and paint.
By: Cathy Heimer, Jet Observer
Photographed by: Linda Sifford
Former Commanding Officer, Captain Jon A. Greene looks on with a chuckle as new Commanding Officer, Captain Stephen H. Kelley addresses the command in the change of command ceremony held at the Dam Neck base theatre.