DAHLGREN, Va. –
Have you ever wanted to see a Potomac River test range boat up close? How about rolling up your sleeves and diving into STEM activities? What about operating a robot? These are activities the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren team does every day and on Friday, Oct. 14 they are bringing them to you! Embark onto a journey Oct. 14 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Inn at Old Silk Mill in Fredericksburg for Dahlgren Downtown 2022 where you’ll find historical and technology displays, a STEM corner, a food truck and music. Come celebrate NSWC Dahlgren - your Navy next door – downtown – at this free event open to the community!
Throughout the year, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) participates in multiple community events, including the King George County, Virgnia, fall festival, community relations council (organized by Naval Surface Activity South Potomac), Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren, King George County Schools science fairs, numerous STEM initiatives and Industry Days, to name some. These events are effective with regard to our efforts to integrate into the local citizenship, small businesses, and schools.
NSWCDD is a hands-on Research and Development Center with a mission to deliver warfare systems to protect our nation and defeat our adversaries. Our vision is to design, develop, and integrate technologically superior warfare systems for the 21st century. Our portfolio includes combat systems, directed energy and surface warfare systems. We are among eight surface warfare centers in the Naval Sea Systems Command and accomplish our mission at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Dam Neck Activity in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Leading as the largest federal research and development employer in Virginia and as a longstanding significant employer in our local region, the Navy organization is a centerpiece in King George County as well as a naval anchor in the Northern Neck and Fredericksburg regions. Operational for 104 years, Dahlgren Division (and its previously held names) finds success in its hands-on research, development, testing and evaluation work in part due to the relationships with the community that have been fostered for nearly as long. We have a workforce of over 8,500 – military, civilians and contractors and are constantly evolving and innovating to meet the needs of the warfighter today. Dahlgren was founded to meet the needs of the Navy 104 years ago and still continues to innovate to meet the needs of tomorrow’s Navy and the Navy after next. In early 1918, the Navy selected several tracts of land on the Potomac River near Machodoc Creek to serve as its new proving ground. The planned range was over water and offered a long, straight shot toward the Chesapeake Bay. From here, the Navy could adequately test its new long-range guns for use during World War I. On October 16, 1918, the first shot of the new base was fired from a 7-inch, 45-caliber, tractor-mounted gun. Dahlgren soon established itself as a premier testing ground and earned the responsibility to proof and test every major gun in the Navy’s arsenal.
Learn more about us at Dahlgren Downtown 2022! The Inn at Old Silk Mill is located at 1707 Princess Anne St. For more information, contact NSWC Dahlgren Division Corporate Communications at (540) 653-8152.