CRANE, Ind. – Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) engineer, Jeffrey Johann, received a prestigious award for providing extraordinary value to the Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) effort. Johann received the Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) Director’s Award in a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard in May.
Johann, Senior Scientific Technical Manager (SSTM) and the Distinguished Engineer for Radiation Sciences, says receiving the award is meaningful to him.
“It is an honor to receive the Director’s Award from SSP,” said Johann. “When I received my call from Vice Admiral Wolfe, and after some small talk, he told me I had been selected for the SSP Director’s award, I was in complete shock. I had no idea I would ever be considered for this award. One or two people from across the program are selected each year. I called home and I could barely talk as I explained the call to my wife. Surprise and shock!!”
SSP is responsible for the development, production, and life cycle support for the sea-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad. This includes training, systems, equipment, facilities and personnel responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Trident II (D5LE) strategic weapon system.
The SSP Director’s Award has only been given to select individuals throughout the entire history of the FBM program. Prior to 2023, this award was given to 42 people. The two recipients this year, including Johann, marked 43 and 44.
“This is a very prestigious award and really reflects on Jeff’s contributions and leadership over more than 30 years of service,” said J.R. Ross, SSTM, the Global Deterrence and Defense Department Director.
According to his nomination package, Johann has provided long-term, superior service to the program by “serving multiple roles, increasing collaboration, decreasing costs, rapidly resolving challenging technical issues, driving the TRIDENT Life Extension (LE) development to a successful conclusion, and serving SSP on the road and away from his family, providing an example to future leaders of what dedication to the Fleet Ballistic Missile program is. Jeff has served the program in multiple capacities including technical program manager, radiation hardness subject matter expert, direct program support, and Flight Systems Division and Global Deterrence and Defense Department chief engineer. The passion that Jeff brings to these roles is contagious and the teams that Jeff has formed, trained and mentored span across the Navy enterprise but are singularly focused on supporting and advancing the strategic deterrence mission.”
VADM Wolfe said in his award speech, “Jeff, you are instrumental to the FBM program’s success, and I want thank you for your tremendous support to SSP.”
The nomination package continues, “By setting the example of answering the call to serve however and whenever the program needs his help, Jeff has inspired an entire generation of younger engineers who are eager to serve the United States Navy with honor, courage, and commitment. This program has witnessed the unwavering dedication of a selfless and passionate civil servant who believed in this mission as a matter of national importance and has conducted himself with integrity beyond reproach. These accomplishments should be recognized and remembered as an example to follow for us and for those who come after us.”
Johann has more than 30 years of service at NSWC Crane supporting SSP. Johann has earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
About NSWC Crane NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.