DAHLGREN, Va. –
The ability of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) workforce to unite with multiple installations and the willingness to think outside the box to create new ways to support the warfighter was recognized by the NAVSEA Warfare Center Awards Program.
A host of NSWCDD employees demonstrated why the Command is widely considered a premier institution for research and development as they were recently honored for their collaboration, innovation and technical support services.
The awards program places an emphasis on efforts with a broad scope that made a substantial impact.
Electromagnetic and Sensor Systems Department members Son Nguyen, Alexander Niepraschk and Tyler Truslow were part of the Cloud Based Automated Analysis Suite Team that earned the 2023 Technical Support Services Award.
Integrated Combat Systems Department employees Robert Quinnan, Xavier Sidney and Timothy Van Drew were also members of that unit.
“The commitment and urgency of our team members and the entire Aegis community at Dahlgren led to this award,” Truslow said. “The vision is to change the way Dahlgren and the U.S. Navy conducts combat system and sensor data analysis. There were some long days and tough technical challenges and discussions. But our team and the Aegis community really came together to break down old silos and refused to accept, ‘We can’t do that’ as an answer.”
Truslow said the team received support from leadership who had confidence in what the group was attempting to create.
“That is absolutely essential to what we’ve accomplished so far,” Truslow said.
Strategic and Computing Systems Department employees Joseph Eggert Jr., Kevin “Joe” Proffitt, Olivia Smith and Alexandra Strauch were members of the Marine Air Defense Integrated System Desktop Trainer Team that received the Innovation Award.
The group was recognized for creativity and innovation which enabled rapid system development. Team members overcame significant technical challenges, which led to the successful debut of v.3.0.0 for U.S. Marine Corps New Equipment Training and provided initial instruction for Low Altitude Air Defense Marines to train as they fight.
Electromagnetic and Sensor Systems Department scientist Harold Bannister Jr., along with 11 members of the Warfare Analysis and Digital Modeling Department, were integral parts of the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve Experimentation and Assessments Campaign Team that received the John C. Mickey Award for Collaboration.
The group was recognized for outstanding collaboration between NSWCDD and Port Hueneme. Team members integrated prototypes into fleet events and conducted objective-based assessments. The award citation stated that their efforts exceeded sponsor requirements and accelerated the delivery of emerging technology to the warfighter.
Thomas “Glenn” Moore and Jimmy Rose Sr. of the Electromagnetic and Sensor Systems Department participated with the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) MK 38 Failure Investigation Team that earned the Technical Support Services Award. They were joined on the team by 19 members of the Integrated Engagement Systems Department, Robert Talley Jr. of the Corporate Operations Department and Michael Hopson, Kevin Sandersen, Kathryn Diberardino and Douglas Plotner of the Weapons Control and Integration Department.
The group was recognized for providing sound investigation, objective quality evidence and root cause analysis, which enabled the ship to return to its mission in a safe and operational state following an unexpected incident.
Barry Mohle, who works under NSWCDD Deputy Technical Director Darren Barnes, SSTM, was a member of the Naval Range Enterprise Team that earned the John C. Mickey Award for Collaboration.
The team collaborated across NSWCDD, NSWC Carderock, NSWC Corona, NSWC Crane, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Keyport and NUWC Newport, resulting in productivity improvements and cost savings.