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Home : Home : Warfare Centers : NSWC Carderock : Who We Are : Technical Director
Technical Director
Dr. Joseph T. (Tim) Arcano, Jr.

Dr. Joseph T. (Tim) Arcano, Jr., a member of the Senior Executive Service since Nov. 2011, was appointed as the technical director (TD) for Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division in May 2013. As the technical director, he leads more than 2,000 employees who provide the Navy a broad range of technical support specializing in hull, mechanical and electrical engineering.

Prior to his assignment as the NSWC Carderock Division TD, Dr. Arcano served as the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) from November 2011 to May 2013. In this capacity, he was responsible for advising NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce in the field of ocean exploration, research and advanced technology development.

Prior to his assignment at NOAA, he served as Corbin A. McNeill Endowed Chair in Naval Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy, and as Deputy Chief of nuclear safety at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). He also served as Technical Director and Technical Authority (Ship Design Manager) for the Virginia-class Submarine Program, as Technical Authority for advanced submarines at Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) and as a Program Manager on technical staff at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. For the National Science Foundation, he served as a member of the Replacement Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) Oversight Committee, overseeing the development of the replacement for the HOV ALVIN.

Dr. Arcano served for 30 years of active and reserve commissioned service in the Navy as an engineering duty officer qualified in submarines, as a salvage diving officer and as an acquisition professional. Active duty tours included serving as the senior ship superintendent for the last overhaul of USS Gato (SSN 615) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and ship design manager for the conversion of USS Memphis (SSN 691) as the Navy’s research and development submarine. He also commanded five Reserve units, including: a Joint Reserve Unit for the Director, Defense Research and Engineering and a Navy Reserve Unit for Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, USN. He retired as a Navy captain.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in ocean engineering from the U. S. Naval Academy, a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering and an Ocean Engineer degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy from the National Defense University Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Maryland. He is a graduate of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program and a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Naval Architects and Mechanical Engineers and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland.

His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards) and Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.


Click to download Dr. Arcano's bio