DAHLGREN, Va. –
One of the benefits of working at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) is the sheer amount of different interest areas.
For Deputy Director for Warfare Integration Samuel ‘Sam’ Koski, the opportunities at NSWCDD have led him across the warfare center division. Enlisting in the Navy after high school graduation, Koski served aboard the USS Constellation (CV 64) as a flight desk troubleshooter and mechanic, and completed several deployments to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.
After four years enlisted as an aircraft mechanic for F-14D aircrafts, Koski moved to England where he met his now-wife and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Surrey.
A few years later, Koski and his family moved to the Dahlgren area, where he continued his career with the Navy – this time, as a lead test engineer. He then worked on modeling and simulation technologies before moving to Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) on detail.
During his nearly two years at PEO IWS, Koski worked on two notable projects: Project Overmatch and the Model-Based Systems Engineer (MBSE) Style Guide. His work on both projects during 2020-2021 earned him recognition from the program office as a Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service awardee.
According to the award citation, Koski displayed “exceptional leadership, management and resourcefulness” while managing a team of subject matter experts from across PEO IWS, multiple warfare centers and contractor organizations to deliver the initial MBSE Style Guide in less than four months, acting as a “driving force in the timely drafting, development and promulgation” of the style guide.
“A style guide is a way of defining what we mean by making a model of systems in a MBSE tool,” explained Koski. “The challenge was all the different perspectives on what that is – everyone has a different opinion on new things that haven’t yet become adopted. The MBSE Style Guide impacts everyone across the NAVSEA arena.
Project Overmatch originated in October 2020 with a pair of memos from the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, which made the case that the future of U.S. naval supremacy is “dependent on enhancing distributed maritime operations through a teamed manned/unmanned force.” Gilday established Project Overmatch to build the naval operational architecture.
“Right after this memo came out, I started reaching out across the organization, and I stood up a cross-functional team that worked across PEO IWS to figure out how we were going to contribute as a whole,” recounted Koski. “As a team, working on the style guide and Project Overmatch stretched our abilities. Our work shows the ability to change and move to a system of systems and horizontally-integrated type of Navy. I appreciate the fact that people recognize that work.”
Last year, Koski returned to the Warfare Analysis and Digital Modeling Department as Chief Engineer before filling the role of Deputy Director for Warfare Integration in January 2022.
“I was an aircraft mechanic. I know firsthand that we are putting people out there in harm’s way, so I am extremely passionate about making sure we are bringing things to bear for the Navy that will make sure that we are always in an unfair fight,” said Koski. “My experience paints my perspective.”