Karena Swisher assumed the role of acting director for Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Dam Neck Activity (DNA) in Virginia Beach, Virginia, January 2025, and is responsible for product delivery and stewardship of 500 operations, scientists and engineers working a portfolio of U.S. Navy combat systems readiness and sustainment, platform and system cybersecurity, signals intelligence, and integrated training systems development and sustainment.
Swisher previously served as the department head for the Corporate Operations Department at NSWCDD. In this capacity, she led a team of several hundred employees focused on the hiring and training of personnel in addition to the establishment, maintenance, and growth of the command’s infrastructure, facilities, and information technology. Swisher also led the department’s communications, security, business, tool development, and property management programs to support effective mission accomplishment for NSWCDD, the Navy, and the nation.
Swisher served as the division head of the NSWCDD Combat Systems Test and Evaluation Division from 2020 to 2022. In this position, she led more than 350 personnel focused on the systems test and evaluation of combat systems including the operation of the Combat Systems Lab Operations and Services Service Cost Center.
Prior to coming to NSWCDD she served as the Capability Advancement Director (J9) from 2018 to 2020 at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC), Dahlgren, Virginia and led the command’s infrastructure, science, and engineering capability development efforts while serving as the command’s focal point for R&D requirements, prioritization, and Program Objective Memorandum submissions.
She was the Analytic Platforms Deputy Director (DJ6) from 2015 to 2018 where she led the operation and advancement of the command’s IT infrastructure, development of analytical and business applications, and facility operations.
Over the course of her employment at JWAC, she supervised the Technical Advancement Division, several branches and led development in the areas of non-kinetic weapons effects, interdependency analysis, and the core infrastructures. She spearheaded the effort to revise the Accelerated Compensation Development Program policy and proactively engaged with the operations department to develop realistic resource plans for deployments. As the Task Force Weapons Effects Operational Readiness Evaluation Coordinator she oversaw the evaluation of candidate capabilities for transition to operations by ensuring testing included realistic operational scenarios, standards were documented and schedules and milestones were developed and tracked. Swisher served in the J3 senior technical staff position as the Interdependency Team Lead. There she was responsible for leading a multi-disciplinary team who developed integrated tools and capabilities to assist analysts in developing analytical products that include synergistic effects-based targeting options to support planning and execution of military options.
A native of Bluff City, Tennessee, Swisher was valedictorian of her high school class and went on to graduate from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemical engineering in 1996 and 1997, respectively. She began her employment with the Navy in 1998 as a chemical engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center working in the Chemical and Biological Systems Analysis Branch. In 2001 Swisher joined the Joint Warfare Analysis Center as a petroleum, oil and lubricants analyst.
Swisher’s awards include the 2017 JWAC Executive Civilian of the Year, 2015 JWAC Excellence in Service Group Award, 2014 Robert L. Hudson Award, 2005 JWAC Award of Merit for Group Achievement and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.