INDIAN HEAD, Md. ─ Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division recognized individuals and teams who made significant contributions to the command’s mission at the annual Honorary Awards ceremony today, which was held at the Indian Head Town Pavilion.
“When I look at these awardees, I see the epitome of teamwork and leadership. Know that I have resolute trust in each and all of you: our talented, dedicated and professional workforce,” said NSWC IHEODTD Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Kraft. “So today we take a pause and acknowledge our extraordinary accomplishments.”
Mr. Ashley Johnson, technical director for NSWC IHEODTD said, “I'm really excited to be here today, because this is one of my favorite parts of my job – recognizing the men and women of this Division for their exceptional accomplishments and 2018 was a year of many accomplishments. The men and women recognized here today are noted for their innovation, keeping the workforce safe, saving resources for the Navy, and for their commitment and dedication to the Nation's warfighters. I am impressed daily with how much this command continues to improve processes, grow, innovate and excel technically.”
Guest speaker Dr. Maureen Murphy, College of Southern Maryland president said, "Our two organizations have a long and rich history of partnership. Indian Head was our very first partner – something the College of Southern Maryland never forgets. All of you – in this room, living your daily lives – are an example to young people of the value of science, technology, engineering and math.”
Some of the command’s Honorary Awards are named for a significant person from IHEODTD’s history, and honor those past individuals and the recipients today. The command presented 16 awards that recognized more than 100 employees.
Read below for more information on the awards presented at the ceremony and this year’s recipients.
ROGER M. SMITH TEAM AWARD: Roger Smith, NSWC IHEODTD technical director from October 1989 until his death in February 1999, believed the ability to work as a team was the key to continued success. This award recognizes team efforts to improve the command’s performance and effectiveness in providing products and services to meet customer requirements. Presented to the Explosive Formulation Revitalization Team for their work in revitalizing explosive formulation development for the command, producing several new formulations demonstrating new capabilities. These accomplishments contribute to the surface, air and undersea advantage the Navy strives to keep for its Sailors.
SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD: This award recognizes an individual or group who made a significant effort to enhance safe work practices in their area. Presented to the Hazard Analysis Team for successfully completing nearly 20 comprehensive operating and hazard analyses when pulled for a short-notice requirement to support the start-up activities at the Quad City Cartridge Case Facility in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois.
EXCELLENCE IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AWARD: This award recognizes excellence in systems engineering proficiency as applied to execution of role within projects or improvements to corporate pillar area processes, tools, metrics and knowledge and awarded to an individual or group who demonstrate an ability to implement a high degree of technical proficiency in systems engineering to ensure the most effective and efficient methods, tools and proficiency are applied. Presented to the Technical Data Package Cross Cutting Initiative Team for their outstanding effort to improve the creation, use and maintenance of complete and accurate technical data packages. They developed several products and processes which will help define requirements, create metrics and a central repository ultimately increasing the understanding and acceptance of stakeholder requirements.
EXCELLENCE IN QUALITY EXECUTION AWARD: This award recognizes excellence in applying quality program proficiency during execution as it relates to our quality control systems. Excellence in quality is essential to realizing consistent delivery and demand for our products and services. Presented to the Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices Manufacturing Quality Control Team for developing and implementing an improved quality control methodology within the manufacturing area, which included new standards for in-process inspections, review of discrepancy records and final inspections. These changes demonstrate improvements in quality and execution.
EXCELLENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AWARD: Project management is the application of leadership, communication and technical rigor – processes, tools, templates and personnel proficiency – to successfully execute project activities to meet organizational and customer expectations. Behind every high-quality project is a project manager who is responsible for motivating project teams and accomplishing project objectives to safely deliver quality products or services that meet customer technical requirements within budget and schedule using effective and efficient methods to execute this disciplined pillar role. Presented to Alexander Sweeney, Systems Engineering Department, Fusion and Initiation Systems Branch mechanical engineer, for his leadership and managerial expertise. His dedication to excellence led to the success of at least four undersea products, brought the command millions of dollars of new work, and accelerated the command’s adoption of new and advanced technologies.
Lance Corporal T. J. Honeycutt Award for Forward Deployed Service: Lance Corporal T.J. Honeycutt, a Marine from Charles County, Maryland, lost his life to an improvised explosive device attack while on patrol. This award recognizes a civilian employee who, within the past year, has deployed to a combat zone or other forward-deployed location to provide direct support to the warfighter in support of the command’s mission. Presented to William Jurkowski, Systems Integration Department, Ammunition Engineering Support Branch technician, for his outstanding leadership of the Mobile Ammunition Evaluation and Reconditioning Unit that provided readiness of assets, maintenance and system supports to the fleet in Italy, Greece, Spain, Guam, Japan, Cuba and South Korea. The team provided the Navy with significant cost savings by providing in-person service.
INTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD: This award recognizes an employee who has provided excellent service to internal customers. Presented to Ashleigh Bowie, Contracts Department administrative/technical specialist, for the timely execution of a critical contract which was imperative to support the manufacturing of liquid nitrate ester propellants and explosive ingredients for U.S. joint and allied forces weapon systems.
Also presented to the Staffing and Recruitment Team for their indispensable efforts to find, secure and retain the command’s most important resources: its people. Their collective and seamless teamwork with management and staff facilitated long-term intern strategies, techniques for creating unique positions, finding unique candidates and targeted hiring of hard-to-find skills.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY AWARD: This award recognizes the achievements of an individual or group who excelled in extending equal opportunity to those desiring federal employment or by assisting federal employees in achieving their highest potential and productivity. Presented to Dr. Dion Serben, Systems Integration Department, Other Ship Gun Ammunition Program manager, for her tireless work to advance equal opportunity for minorities and women. She led efforts to reach young women and minority students during several initiatives and STEM outreach events.
DR. HORST ADOLPH AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PATENT: Dr. Horst Adolph’s 30-year government career began in 1961 and included achieving more than 40 patents and authoring more than 90 publications dealing with synthesis and formulation of energetic ingredients used in explosives and propellants. Presented to the Special Purpose Low Impact Threat Rupture Team for developing and patenting (U.S. Patent 10,066,916) a new projectile and render-safe procedure for steel pipe bombs proven to be extremely effective at rupturing these devices without a detonation. This increases the safety of bomb technicians and increases the likelihood of success for technicians by negating the need for warfighters to transfer the threat item for disposal.
CONTINUOUS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AWARD: This award recognizes efforts resulting in significant improvement made to administrative, business, or technical processes accomplished through Lean and/or Six Sigma, yielding benefits in cost, schedule, quality, and/or risk. Presented to the Mark 706 Container Re-Manufacture Team for coming in below budget and ahead of schedule on the Mark 706 shipping container for the Mark 66 rocket motor. Their $514,000 savings was used to provide more than 2,050 additional containers at no cost to the sponsor.
CAPTAIN H. E. LACKEY AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE: Captain Henry E. Lackey was the NSWC IHEODTD commanding officer from 1917-1920, this award is given to an individual or team who, on their own time, provides significant contributions to the community. Presented to Darrell Flesher, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Department, Ballistics Test Branch engineer, for supporting the community by volunteering with his church’s youth ministry team in many capacities from overnight lock-ins to participation in mission trips. He routinely spends his evenings and weekends ministering to youth, along with leading and participating in church activities for the poor and otherwise needy of the parish.
A.J. PERK OUTSTANDING OPERATOR/TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR: During his long tenure at the command, A.J. Perk was devoted to providing customers with excellent products and services by “doing the job right.” He was fair, firm, decisive and cared about employee interests. This award recognizes a model employee who serves as an example to others. Presented to Austin Collins, Energetics Manufacturing Department, Rockets and Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices Operations Branch explosives operator, for his outstanding contributions to the Mark 90 program's multi-wrap operation – one of the more challenging operations in the extrusion area. His dedication and perseverance significantly improved the reject and rework rates at the multi-wrap operation.
Also presented to Clarence Tasker, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department, Inventory Control Point/Depot Branch shipping technical specialist, for his expert coordination for priority shipments of explosive ordnance disposal tools and equipment, which was critical to the successful support of Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon System Support Program and multiple programs with the on-time delivery of 4,265 shipments of life-saving explosive ordnance disposal assets valued at more than $28.5 million.
ADMIRAL HAROLD R. STARK AWARD FOR INNOVATION: As the Naval Inspector of Ordnance in charge of the Naval Proving Grounds, Dahlgren, Virginia, and the Naval Powder Factory, Indian Head, Maryland, Admiral Harold R. Stark became the Chief of Naval Operations in 1939. This award recognizes an individual or group who advances the state-of-the-art in their field of endeavor. Presented to the Smart Mining Initiative Safety and Arming Rapid Prototype Development Team for their breakthrough design that allows minefields to remain armed for extended time periods and for the remote arming and disarming of mines. The system positively advances mine capability, reliability and safety allowing for safe, confident, friendly ship passage.
JOE L. BROWNING AWARD FOR MANAGERIAL EXCELLENCE: Joe L. Browning was NSWC IHEODTD’s first technical director from 1962 - 1975. This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates innovative leadership principles and management skills of coaching and teaming in the development of personnel and their accomplishments. Presented to Lance Brown, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department, Test and Evaluation Branch manager, for his superb leadership while serving as manager of two branches. His outstanding work included implementing several improvements significantly impacting branch operations, staffing and morale.
DR. GEORGE W. PATTERSON AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENT: As chief chemist and powder expert, Dr. George Patterson is remembered for his work during his 41-year tenure, including developing smokeless and flashless gun powders. This award honors an individual for outstanding technical accomplishment supporting the command mission and advancing some area of technology. Presented to George McDaniel Jr., Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Department, Chemistry Branch engineer, for developing several classes of advanced explosive formulations through the innovative adaptation of Resonant Acoustic Mixers. By successfully incorporating Resonant Acoustic Mixers to energetic materials, a more lethal system can be developed benefitting air, surface and underwater weapons. This new capability is a huge enabler for more lethal force.
ROBERT B. DASHIELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: Ensign Robert B. Dashiell was NSWC IHEODTD’s first commanding officer and is known for establishing the facility, including supervision of building and acquisition of staff and materials. He was also a specialist in gun mechanical design and invented the Dashiell rapid-fire breech. This award honors an individual who within the past year has made a significant contribution to the mission or operation of the activity. Presented to Scott Buswell, Energetics Manufacturing Department, Chemicals Development and Manufacturing Branch engineer, for his exceptional chemical engineering and nitration process management in the design, construction and start-up of the Agile Chemical Facility. The facility is dedicated to the safe and efficient manufacture of liquid nitrate ester propellants and explosive ingredients. He excelled as the commissioning and start-up lead providing his expertise to the design of complicated chemical processes, development of the complex control system sequence of operations and the management of the facility operational testing.
NSWC IHEODTD – 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.
-NAVSEA-