NSWC Carderock

Testing at Carderock

A ship hull model attached to a high-speed sled moves through waves at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock's David Taylor Model Basin, in West Bethesda, Md., during Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored research. The purpose of the research is to study the fundamental physics of the water-impact of high-speed planing hulls and to measure the slamming loads and resulting motions of the craft upon re-entry into the water which can cause structural damage and injury to passengers.

Bird's Eye View of Carderock

Aerial image of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division and the David Taylor Model Basin in West Bethesda, Maryland.

Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin (MASK)

Birds eye view of the wave maker in action at the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the re-opening of Carderock's upgraded Maneuvering & Seakeeping (MASK) basin at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division.

The command provides cradle-to-grave support for its technical products over a variety of scientific areas related to surface and undersea platforms.

West Bethesda Headquarters

A wide shot of Bldg. 1 at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in West Bethesda, Md., on Oct. 19, 2023.

International Human-Powered Submarine Race (ISR)

Navy divers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division at Indian Head, Md., assist student teams with their human-powered submarines during the 13th International Human-Powered Submarine Race (ISR) being held in the David Taylor Model Basin at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division. ISR is a unique international engineering design competition that inspires high school and college-age students of the various engineering disciplines to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

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NSWC Carderock Division News

NORTH BETHESDA, Md. (Feb. 26, 2026) – Brendon “Cobie” Bondoc, right, a mechanical engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), moderates the Leadership Perspectives Panel during the SIDE 2026: A Deep Dive into 3D Scanning industry partnership forum. The panel brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss advancements in 3D scanning technology. Panelists included Dr. Davis McGregor from the University of Maryland, Dr. Bala Muralikrishnan from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Jay Ong from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Michael Raphael from Direct Dimension, Inc., and Dr. Cindy Waters from NSWCCD. The event was co-hosted by the Carderock Capital Tech Bridge and the Pike District Partnership. Carderock, the Navy's innovation and ship design powerhouse, headquartered in West Bethesda, Maryland, is a world-class research and development facility specializing in critical ship and ship systems design. (U.S. Navy photo by Aaron Thomas)

Navy, Pike District Partnership Co-Host Maritime Tech Industry Day with 3D Scanning Focus

By Aaron Thomas, NSWC Carderock Public Affairs | Feb. 27, 2026

In a move to bolster technological advancement, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, partnered with the Pike District Partnership (PDP) and with support from the Montgomery County Economic Development...

Members of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division’s Electromagnetic Signatures Technology Division engage with attendees at a poster session in West Bethesda, Feb. 24, 2026. The event was part of an enterprise-wide Engineers Week themed “Transform Your Future.” Carderock joined divisions across the Navy to celebrate Engineers Week with technical briefs and engagement events Feb. 23-27. Carderock, headquartered in West Bethesda, is the Navy's ship design and research facility specializing in critical ship systems. (U.S. Navy photo by Corum Byers)

Transform Your Future: Carderock Celebrates Engineers Week 2026

By Alisha Tyer, NSWC Carderock Division Public Affairs | Feb. 27, 2026

BETHESDA, Md. – Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division joined naval warfare center divisions across the enterprise Feb. 23-27, 2026, to celebrate Engineers Week, to highlight the Navy’s commitment to innovation,...

Rita Schuh, an environmental engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, stands in the command's Ballast Water Research Laboratory in West Bethesda, Md. Schuh, who has served in the government for 37 years, supports the Uniform National Discharge Standards and Ballast Water programs to standardize environmental regulations for the fleet.

Meet Rita Schuh, an Environmental Engineer whose mission protects the Warfighter and the Environment

By Brittny Odoms, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Public Affairs | Feb. 25, 2026

Rita Schuh, an environmental engineer in the Environmental and Energy Division of the NSWC Carderock Division, has spent 37 years promoting environmental compliance and protection of marine ecosystems across the Armed Forces...

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Safeguarding Innovation: The Strategic Role of Patents at Carderock

By Alisha Tyer, NSWC Carderock Division Public Affairs | Feb. 19, 2026

At Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, innovation is more than a breakthrough in the lab. It is a lineage that stretches back more than a century and continues to shape how the Navy protects and advances its...

Vice Admiral Emory S. Land, USN, seated at his desk. (U.S. Navy photo, Naval History and Heritage Command)

Photo can be found in the Naval History and Heritage Command archive: https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-85000/NH-85532.html

Vice Adm. Emory S. Land and the Power of Collaboration

By By Alisha Tyer, NSWC Carderock Division Public Affairs | Jan. 30, 2026

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division plays a central role in advancing the Navy’s ability to design, test and deliver ships and systems that meet evolving maritime challenges. As the Navy’s powerhouse for...

NSWC Carderock Division
9500 MacArthur Blvd.
West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700