An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : Article View
NEWS | April 18, 2019

NSWC Panama City photographers ‘click’ with Littoral battlespace mission

By Ashley Conner

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) has over 150 projects currently being developed to improve lethality of the Fleet and a small group of specially trained photographers are dedicated to the success of that mission.

 

“At NSWC PCD the scientists and engineers conduct research, development, test and evaluation of mine warfare systems, diving and life support systems, and other missions that occur primarily in the littoral battlespace,” said Anthony Powers, NSWC PCD photographer who is Navy SCUBA certified through the US Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC). “The level of quality documentation we provide is an important element of being able to articulate every aspect of the project to customers.”

 

The three-person Audio Visual team at NSWC PCD shoot hundreds of hours of video and tens of thousands of still photos every year. 

 

“We have a few big events that occur every year,” said Ronnie Newsome, NSWC PCD photographer, who previously served as a Blue Angel photographer before retiring from the Navy after 20 years. “We are one of only a few Warfare Centers with the ability to live steam video to the workforce which allows our leadership the ability improve internal communication.”

 

While the team agrees shooting photos or videos is a rewarding job regardless of the subject, it is the project work at NSWC PCD that is the most rewarding.

 

“Covering projects are always the most challenging because every project or test has different requirements, with its own visual element to explore,” said Eddie Green, NSWC PCD Lynxnet contract photographer. “I have worked in the television news industry for over 20 years and won various awards including six Atlanta area Television Emmy Awards. I understand how powerful videography can be and the statement that a still photograph can make. Everything we do helps to make the U.S. Navy a more lethal fighting force. Not every job has an impact like ours does.”

 

Dr. Erin Cotton, Deputy Project Manager for the Mine Counter Measures Mission Package Test and Evaluation Group, and her team execute test events that are used to determine a mission system’s ability to integrate with a ship.

 

“During these events it is necessary to collect as much data as possible to help verify requirements and ensure that a mission system is ready to move into the next stage of testing,” said Cotton. “The photos and videos provide the necessary support for our results. We may end up writing a 200-page test report, but the main things that everyone looks at are the executive summary and the pictures.”

 

It isn’t just the photo and video shoots from the shores of one of the best beaches in the United States that keep the photographers going. Both Newsome and Green have son’s serving in the Navy.

 

“I have a vested interest in the mission of this command,” said Newsome. “My son is currently stationed onboard a nuclear submarine and anything we can do here to save his life or any one of our military members life is a priority for me.