PANAMA CITY, Fla. –
A strong contracts department is critical to Navy readiness by ensuring the timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods, services, and technologies necessary to support operations, maintenance, training, and innovation. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) has a team committed to serving the warfighter and one of its professionals was recently recognized for his impact.
Tommy Chatman, Engineering Liaison Office (ELO) manager at NSWC PCD, spearheaded the command’s acquisition processes, resulting in a "Best Practice" model adopted Navy-wide. He played a key role in the transition from a prototyping Other Transitional Agreement to a Federal Acquisition Regulation-based production contract, which is the first for the Expeditionary Missions Program Office within the Naval Sea Systems Command and serves as a model for rapid prototyping and fielding capabilities for the warfighter.
For his impact in the command's contracting department, he received the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal. He expressed his gratitude to NSWC PCD and how it has been a great place to work, grow, and be challenged.
“I will always be indebted to them for hiring me straight out of college with no professional experience. I hope that their faith in me has been repaid with my diligent service to them and the warfighter,” Chatman said. “Additionally, it is extremely gratifying to see a procurement that you worked on directly, go through from concept, to development, to fabrication, and into the hands of the warfighter.”
Chatman was also a key contributor in the awarding of a contract to acquire the Standoff Reacquire Identify Detection Expeditionary Navigation Tool (STRIDENT) production contract. STRIDENT is a cutting-edge, long-range reconnaissance and targeting system that enhances the Navy's ability to identify and neutralize threats from a safe distance.
By expediting the acquisitions like STRIDENT and similar critical technologies, Chatman enabled NSWC PCD personnel to provide access to this critical capability sooner, enhancing the Navy’s readiness to respond to emerging threats.
“His expert management of contract preparation, coupled with proactive leadership in navigating complex funding requirements and data calls, significantly improved efficiency, productivity, and timeliness across multiple commands,” said Capt. Paul Stence, Jr., NSWC PCD commanding officer. “This ultimately ensured seamless delivery of critical resources and services to support the Navy's mission.”
Throughout his time leading the ELO, Chatman’s unwavering dedication and proactive approach were instrumental in ensuring the Navy had the resources it needed. His leadership not only improved immediate operational efficiency but also established a lasting foundation for continued success.