FREDERICKSBURG, Va. –
On Oct. 4, the Fredericksburg Convention Center filled with more than 200 attendees as Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) hosted and set the stage for a collaborative convergence for the Naval Surface Technology and Innovation Consortium (NSTIC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Collaboration Event.
With more than 970 members spanning 48 states, NSTIC is a national consortium of defense companies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and nontraditional technology companies looking to work with the government to develop innovative maritime technologies that solve current Navy challenges.
The event commenced with an introduction delivered by NSWCDD Commanding Officer Capt. Philip Mlynarski.
“The NSTIC OTA provides us the opportunity to go on the prototype side and develop new capabilities with various partners through business and industries. It allows us to expedite tasks more efficiently to support our nation’s mission and defense,” said Mlynarski.
Technical Director Dale Sisson, Jr., SES, explained the Navy and NSWCDD’s strategic vision and showed appreciation for industry partners.
“We thank you all for being a part of this partnership. This is making a difference in our ability to deliver products to the warfighter,” said Sisson. “This is also helping to fuel the demand signal for not only Dahlgren Division but across the research and development enterprise overall.”
The two-day event provided valuable information on the Navy’s technology needs, giving NSTIC partners insight into current and future focus areas while providing in-person discussions with technical leaders.
The program has proven successful for the Navy. Since its inception in 2019, the OTA has resulted in $1.3 billion in awards to NSTIC partners.
Retired Rear Adm. Tom Kearney, the U.S. Navy executive director of the NSTIC Consortium, addressed vital components of the NSTIC in his remarks. His presentation encompassed improved intra-consortium and inter-team communication, elevated standards for proposal feedback and the strategic utilization of statements of need to convey innovative ideas and concepts to the government.
Kearney asked the audience, “What does the government of our nation need for our defense?”
“We often don’t have the synergy, the integration and discussions we need to have when creating programs and systems,” Kearney said. “The OTA world bulldozes limitations on important discussions and offers the opportunities for government program managers to communicate exactly what we need.”
On the first day of the event, participants had the opportunity to embark on guided tours of Dahlgren's cutting-edge facilities. Attendees engaged in discussions with NSWCDD technical area managers and personnel, delving into the capabilities, innovative concepts and emerging technologies. Discussions centered on upcoming projects and how industry partners can support NSWCDD with rapid development, prototyping and testing of innovative technology.
The annual event plays a pivotal role in fostering an open communication platform, facilitating seamless collaboration and driving the development of essential Navy warfighter capabilities through dynamic partnership with industry stakeholders and NSWCDD’s workforce.