Wyatt J. Nash, Underwater Electromagnetics Stealth Advisor at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, is one of 10 recipients of the 2025 Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award. Nash was recognized for his role in addressing critical electromagnetic signature control challenges on Virginia-class submarines homeported in Pearl Harbor and Guam, and for significantly advancing awareness of underwater electromagnetic (UEM) risks across the Pacific Fleet.
The annual award, established in honor of Dr. Delores M. Etter, a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, recognizes top scientists and engineers across the Naval Research and Development Establishment. Recipients are selected for their technical excellence, innovation, and lasting contributions to the Navy and the nation.
Nash’s Impact on Undersea Advantage
As the first to serve in his advisory position at Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC), Nash has worked closely with ship crews, maintenance teams, and magnetic silencing facilities. His efforts have improved system health, measurement accuracy and operational readiness, strengthening the Navy’s undersea advantage.
Before his time at SUBPAC, Nash was the operations manager for Carderock’s Assessment and Identification of Mine Susceptibility (AIMS) program. He joined Carderock in 2018 after nine years as a civilian with the Undersea Warfighting Development Center detachment in Norfolk where he served as the technical advisor for Undersea Warfare requirements. Prior to his civilian career, he had a 20-year career as an electronics technician (nuclear) turned submarine officer. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico, Etter’s alma mater, and a master’s in operations research from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Bridging Knowledge Gaps
Some of his initial challenges in the advisory role involved assessing the needs and knowledge gaps of department heads, Sailors, operators, and maintenance personnel at SUBPAC.
“I spent a lot of time listening to the department heads, the chiefs and Sailors on the boats, the shipyard workers at Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard, and the operators at Magnetic Silencing Facility Pearl Harbor,” Nash said. “Slowly the scope of the issues that needed to be addressed came into focus.”
It became clear that bridging UEM knowledge gaps across the chain of command, beginning with educating the ships’ force, was the first priority. While on board USS Montana (SSN 794) for new construction UEM trials, Nash developed an innovative method to incorporate UEM education into the “Plan of the Day,” a daily review of the schedule and required reading for the crew. This brought them up to speed on the day’s work and schedule aboard the ship.
“In one of the first daily operations meetings, someone said they didn’t even know what UEM was,” Nash said. “It was an eye opener. Now, I take every opportunity to further educate myself so that I can better educate the Fleet. I try to translate things so Fleet operators understand just how important this work really is.”
Nash views knowledge gaps as part of a broader challenge in communicating UEM’s importance within the Navy’s research and development enterprise. “UEM has a marketing problem,” he said. “Few people across the chain of command are familiar with these systems, and we missed the opportunity to build familiarity for an entire generation of submariners.”
Today, thanks in large part to Nash’s outreach and coordination efforts, UEM knowledge is accessible at every level in the chain of command. The technology has garnered the attention of senior flag officers in the operational and acquisition communities. There’s also been an improvement in the health of signature reduction systems and the knowledge level of those who troubleshoot and repair them.
“There is still a long way to go, but it is exciting to see it happening,” Nash said.
Commitment to the Mission
While others see a determined technical leader, Nash sees himself as an introvert who simply refuses to look away from a problem. “I was kind of blown away that I was selected for this recognition,” Nash said. “I’ve never really considered myself a real engineer. I used to be a submarine officer, and so I’m just committed to the mission of the submarine force, even when it’s hard.”
That commitment is evident not just in what Nash has achieved, but in how he works. He credits his success to collaboration and a willingness to learn from those around him, whether it’s calling from the pier for technical advice or translating complex data with help from colleagues.
Though he doesn’t describe himself as a natural-born leader, Nash leads by example, solving problems, showing up with humility and pushing through resistance to ensure submarines are ready for the mission.
One example of Nash’s behind-the-scenes impact came just before a submarine’s scheduled deployment. A critical onboard system used to help manage the vessel’s electromagnetic signature was down to a single functioning hard drive. Without working backups, the risk of system failure at sea was high.
Nash coordinated a rapid-response effort across multiple teams, including engineers, logistics personnel and industry partners, to source, program and deliver replacement drives in time. For Nash, it was more than a technical fix, it was a mission enabler.
“That’s how I measure success,” he said. “Whether the systems are healthy and ready to support the crew when they leave the pier.”
After nearly four decades of service to the Navy, Nash calls this chapter the most meaningful of his career.
“This is the most important thing I have done,” he said. “Even more than being a submarine officer.”
He hopes the work will speak for itself.
“I hope people realize that we had an opportunity to improve something, and we did whatever we had to do to make it work,” Nash said. “If you’re willing to learn and put in the effort, you can accomplish great things.”
That mindset continues to drive him across oceans, time zones, and even relocation challenges, as he works to expand UEM readiness from the Pacific to the Atlantic. For Nash, it’s not about being seen. It’s about keeping submariners safe, the mission moving, and the Navy one step ahead.
As Nash looks ahead, his focus remains on maintaining momentum and deepening UEM awareness across the Fleet. Thanks in part to his persistence, a long-overdue culture shift is underway, raising the profile of signature control and reinforcing its role in operational readiness. With nearly 40 years of Navy service behind him, Nash is still driven by a simple mission: giving submariners the tools and knowledge they need to operate safely, effectively, and unseen.