03.29.2023 –
Several Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) employees attended the Maritime Sustainment Technology and Innovation Consortium (MSTIC) general membership meeting at the Philadelphia Marriot Downtown on March 14-15, 2023.
Established in June 2021, MSTIC affords industry, academia and government stakeholders enhanced networking opportunities to develop and sustain state-of-the-art Maritime technologies through innovative prototyping projects. In addition, this Consortium model allows for NSWCPD to obtain industry feedback and input on rapidly evolving technologies early on in the process.
MSTIC is a collaboration executed under an Other Transaction Authority/Agreement (OTA) with NSWCPD to develop and mature technologies that enhance the Navy’s mission effectiveness.
“I’m really excited about today, and I’m excited for the Consortium [MSTIC] … The Consortium continues to grow. Since we were here in July of 2022, there’s been 90 companies to join the Consortium. We’re really excited about that. The number of projects continue to grow as well,” MSTIC Executive Director William Deligne said during his opening remarks, reflecting upon the state of the Consortium.
The collaboration event also included a variety of speakers from NSWCPD.
NSWCPD’s MSTIC OTA Program Manager Jacob Udell provided information on the MSTIC goals and process, as well as an update on the overall program.
“We’re starting to see some projects from our first cycle come to fruition. For example, we have a project called the small linear actuator test stand. We already have it in Philadelphia. I’ve seen it myself. It’s exciting to see and we’re almost complete with the testing on that,” Udell said in referencing a contract that was sourced from a Statement of Need (SON) request.
In June 2022, NSWCPD awarded this first contract under the OTA for the design, development, and delivery of a small actuator test stand to evaluate electrohydraulic actuators through the MSTIC.
NSWCPD’s Technical Director Nigel C. Thijs spoke about the critical role the MSTIC has with the command.
“It’s important for us [NSWCPD] to deliver capabilities to the warfighter quickly. The threat is real. We have to get after solutions …We are a key contributor to delivering combat power to the warfighter. Our products enable ships, carriers, and submarines to be on station and provide the ability to launch strikes,” Thijs said.
The keynote speaker, Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters Executive Director, Program Executive Office (PEO) Strategic Submarines Matthew Sermon gave a speech on a variety of issues the Navy must overcome, including the ongoing war for talent.
“We have to send messages to our employees that they belong … We care about you. You’re doing an important job. You’re connected to national security,” Sermon said, referring to the shortage of employees working in the Naval submarine industry.
The event was followed by other speakers, new member introductions and SON requests. Additionally, one-on-one sessions between government personnel and industry companies were held on March 15, 2023.
NSWCPD employs approximately 2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The NSWCPD team does the research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear machinery, ship machinery systems, and related equipment and material for Navy surface ships and submarines. NSWCPD is also the lead organization providing cybersecurity for all ship systems.