DAHLGREN, Va. –
On July 22, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Navy Research, Development, Test and Engineering (RDT and E) under the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Joan Johnson spent her morning at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD). Johnson oversees all RDT and E budget activities, science and engineering, advance research and development, prototyping and experimentation and test and evaluation, according to the National Defense Industrial Association.
Her first stop was a walkthrough and award presentation at the Human Performance Lab (HPL) for the Human Systems Integration (HSI) division in the Integrated Combat Systems Department.
“The HPL houses space for design and analysis,” said HSI Division Head Anita Kirkland. “[The space is a] footprint for the division to build 3-D, physical mockups of ship combat systems.”
After touring the new facility, Johnson presented the 2021 G. Dennis White Early Career HSI Practitioner award to Sarah Moore, an engineer in the HSI division, for her outstanding leadership on the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement program Block III human factors analysis of the equipment sponson (a projection on the side of the ship).
“It’s really astounding to me when you look at this [award] – this is the HSI early career award and to look at the accomplishments [being made] in such a short period of time in their careers - it’s really eye watering,” said Johnson during the presentation. “It makes me feel good. I feel safe going to bed at night because we’ve got incredible professionals here [at Dahlgren].”
Following the award presentation, Johnson toured the Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy program lab in the Gun and Electric Weapon Systems department.