DAHLGREN, Va. –
Future naval officers visited Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Oct. 29 for an in-depth look at the innovations and facilities on the installation.
At the beginning of the visit, the 28 midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) received a welcome from NSWCDD Commanding Officer Capt. Stephen “Casey” Plew. Following a short question and answer session the midshipmen received tours and briefings of the Human Performance Lab, Main Range Gun Line, Rapid Platform Integration and Directed Energy.
“Our job at Dahlgren is to take these weapons systems and put them on ships and some of you will be the benefactor of that mission,” Plew explained to the midshipmen. “How you understand the world will help us develop weapons systems of the future. That’s why you’re here.”
While attending USNA, midshipmen will often visit a variety of Navy installations as well as many different classes of ships.
“I learned here how the Navy is responding to the rapid development of new technology,” said Midshipman 1st Class David Sartoph, from Richmond. “The future of warfare is definitely changing and we need to prepare for that.”
This was the 21st tour USNA has made to NSWCDD since 2008.