PANAMA CITY, Fla. –
Rear Adm. Kevin Byrne, commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers, visited Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) May 18 to learn how the command is expanding the advantage by developing technical capabilities to meet emerging needs.
“One of the best parts of my job is getting to visit the Divisions to see firsthand the outstanding work Warfare Center personnel are doing to support the fleet day-in and day-out,” said Byrne. “It’s especially rewarding to personally recognize the team here in Panama City for their unwavering dedication to providing the technologies, tools, and technical solutions across the spectrum, from mine and expeditionary warfare to diving expertise and the littoral battlespace.”
During his visit, Byrne received an in depth tour of facilities and projects aligning to NSWC PCD mission areas including mine warfare, naval special warfare, diving and life support, and amphibious and expeditionary maneuver warfare systems, as well as other missions in the littoral battlespace.
Capt. David Back, commanding officer at NSWC PCD, said Byrne’s visit served as a behind the scenes look into NSWC PCD’s unique capabilities in support of the warfighter.
“At NSWC PCD, we are continuing to enable maritime superiority for today’s Navy, tomorrow’s Navy, and the Navy after next,” said Back. “We are honored to host Rear Adm. Byrne to provide a firsthand look at the work our command does to ensure warfighting dominance through our research, development, test and evaluation mission.”
Byrne presented letters of appreciation and challenge coins to a Quickstrike 64 Extended Range (QS-ER) team of seven individuals for receiving the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration Team of the Year Award.
Bill Vandiver, NSWC PCD test director and QS-ER team member, said he was humbled to receive recognition.
“Everyone on the team works so hard to put out a quality product and it feels good for the team to be recognized,” said Vandiver. “NSWC PCD is doing great things across the board and the QS-ER program is just one of them.”
NSWC PCD is the largest tenant command aboard Naval Support Activity Panama City employing more than 1,500 scientists, engineers and support staff in the areas of research, development, test and evaluation, and in-service support in Mine Warfare, Naval Special Warfare, Diving and Life Support, Amphibious and Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare Systems, as well as other missions in the Littoral Battlespace. 2021 marks the 76th year of the U.S. Navy in Panama City, Florida.