DAHLGREN, Va. – Seven employees and one team from Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) were among those honored with Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) Excellence Awards, the command announced Jan. 24.
The PEO IWS Excellence Awards for the third and fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 recognized individuals, teams and organizations that made significant contributions to PEO IWS.
Aegis Combat System Safety Program (CSSP) Team members Bradley Flock, Steven Heitmeyer, and William Vance were recognized for exceeding expectations in their work to assess, characterize and communicate the safety risk for usage of the Aegis Virtual Twin aboard USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). The team delivered results through both a Weapon Systems Explosive Safety Review Board (WSESRB) technical data package and a combat system Mission Readiness Assessment (MRA). This ensured that the exercise, with combined integrated air and missile defense and anti-submarine warfare trainer, could be safely executed during training at sea. The team’s assessment resulted in authorization for a single missile shot, which was an impressive first live-fire test event with the Aegis Virtual Twin. Similarly, the Aegis CSSP team assessed, characterized and communicated safety risk through both a WSESRB technical data package and a combat system MRA to obtain approvals for 12 ships to participate in two different Aegis Fleet Synthetic Training At Sea exercises in May 2019.
Engineer Brian Rainer was recognized for his work as the leader of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 Ground Test Working Group (GTWG) for the NATO Sea Sparrow Project Office. The NATO Sea Sparrow Project is a joint international military and industrial consortium with the distinction of being the largest and longest running cooperative smart defense initiative in NATO history. Rainer’s excellent understanding of each of the consortium nations' expectations, requirements and needs benefited the NATO Sea Sparrow Consortium as a whole and contributed to the strengthening of relationships with trusted allies.
Engineer James Stevens was recognized as a technical subject matter expert and leader in the area of electromagnetic compatibility, electromagnetic environmental effects, and radar systems. As the NSWC Dahlgren Division lead for all topside integration subtasks, Stevens provided spectrum management, radiation hazard analysis, and electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility systems engineering across all ships designated for installation of the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, helping to resolve critical electromagnetic compatibility design challenges prior to fielding, enabling cost avoidance and an improved technical solution to meet the fleet’s operational needs.”
Kimberly Green, a special security officer for PEO IWS programs at NSWC Dahlgren Division, was recognized for her high performance standards and devotion to continuous improvement. Green’s team of security specialists have had tremendous impacts within the Navy, facilitating security environments that encompass and enable work throughout the acquisition lifecycle. Laying the security groundwork for a facility expansion helped ensure the continuance of PEO IWS program support at NSWCDD, and enabled the continued delivery of needed capabilities into the hands of warfighters.
Engineer Stephen Grossen was recognized for his effort leading the development of the Mark 10 Modification 1 (MK 10 Mod 1) explosive bolt. The MK 10 bolt restraint release system – part of the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) – was designed to replace the MK 7 system in MK 29 and MK 21 canisters. The timeline for design, fabrication and qualification of the new explosive bolt was accelerated, and Grossen led the team in design and drawing reviews, manufacturing readiness and test readiness reviews, testing, and data reviews. The entire redesign effort was successfully completed in a brief four-month period, due in large part to Grossen’s direct actions.
Information technology specialist Catherine Gummer was recognized for her impact on the MK41 and MK57 Vertical Launching System program. As the lead of the configuration management and media production team for over 10 years, Gummer generated and delivered MK41 and MK57 VLS software and related materials to 92 U.S. Navy ships, 86 foreign military sales ships, and 12 land based test sites. The U.S. Navy reaped benefits of over $1 million in cost savings resulting from Gummer’s communications with management regarding efficient software media readiness and distribution.
John Gaffe, who is assigned as the Deputy Undersea Warfare Chief Engineer for PEO IWS Undersea Systems, was recognized for his support of the PEO IWS Undersea Systems Chief Engineer by leading all aspects of the model based systems engineering effort in support of the CNO Networked Architecture for Undersea Theater Integrated Command and Control Advantage (NAUTICA) project. His drive and initiative ensured successful execution of the Navy's first digital engineering effort to identify Theater Undersea Warfare (TUSW) fleet requirements, which were derived from multiple fleet requirements letters, operational documentation, and other authoritative fleet sources.
Engineer David Cooke, who serves as the Surface Ship Weapons Systems Technology Development lead for all science and technology initiatives across surface ship missiles, guns, launching systems and ammunition, was recognized for accepting the challenge of preparing the revised Technology Transition Agreement (TTA) for the Office of Naval Research Future Naval Capability entitled Blast Assisting Munitions. Due in large part to Cooke’s efforts, the document was successfully signed by all stakeholders and the TTA was critical to the Chief of Naval Research’s decision to accelerate this Future Naval Capability.