DAHLGREN, Va. –
For the first time since new Technical Director Dale Sisson Jr., SES took over the helm as Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD)’s top civilian, Rep. Rob Wittman from Virginia’s 1st Congressional District visited the warfare center Jan. 28. Among other committee duties, Wittman serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is a ranking member for the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
The change in technical leadership at NSWCDD brings a renewed focus on Modeling and Simulation (M&S) and mission engineering, among other state-of-the-art technical fields. During Wittman’s visit, he met with Sisson, Warfare Analysis and Digital Modeling Department Head Jeff Thelen and Senior Scientific and Technical Manager for Surface Engagement Steve Malyevac.
Sisson walked Wittman through future plans to re-invent the Potomac River Test Range and demonstration capabilities before Thelen outlined the NSWC Dahlgren Digital Proving Ground (DPG). In order to focus more on system of systems, there is a need for a more complex test architecture. A system of systems is the type of work done on the DPG when a group of systems are tested as a single entity. According to Thelen, the ultimate goal of the DPG is to determine whether one can distinguish between a simulation or reality environment upon entering into a control room.
Malyevac then spoke on the need for hypersonic technology for the U.S. Navy surface fleet and the country as a whole. One of NSWC Dahlgren Division’s strategic thrusts in the technical area is hypersonic weapons, to which scientists and programs are pivoting their focus in order to strengthen defensive and offensive weapon system capabilities. According to Sisson, both hypersonic and DPG technologies are driving a digital transformation at the warfare center.