BETHESDA, Md. – Matthew F. Sinfield, Welding Research and Development Group Lead at Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, is the recipient of two of the Navy’s highest technical honors for his work in advancing additive manufacturing of high-strength steels. He was selected for both the 2025 Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award and Carderock’s Rear Adm. George W. Melville Award for Engineering Excellence.
Both awards recognize Sinfield’s role in developing a framework of six process-material specifications that support qualification and certification of additively manufactured (AM) materials for Navy use. These specifications are currently being used to support Columbia-class submarine components and are intended to help expand the Navy’s use of AM technology across the Maritime Industrial Base.
As the Navy continues to expand the use of additive manufacturing to strengthen the Maritime Industrial Base and support long-term readiness, Sinfield and his team remain focused on the next phase of implementation. Near-term efforts are centered on certifying six AM process-material combinations for broad use, enabling them to serve as interchangeable alternatives to legacy casting equivalents. Looking ahead, the work is expected to support the development of new component designs optimized for weight, geometry, heat flow, and localized performance.
While the dual recognition came as a surprise to Sinfield, the work reflects years of steady leadership, technical discipline, and collaboration across the Navy’s engineering and acquisition communities.
“Progress is made through the contributions of team members, reviewers, and the technical foundation of prior work,” he said. “Any individual award or accolade is a reflection of the support I’ve had from the team.”
Sinfield said that sense of continuity, between past and future, between legacy knowledge and new capabilities, is central to how he defines engineering excellence.
“Carderock has such a rich tradition as an engineering laboratory,” he said. “An easy way to observe this is by reading the engineering manuscripts in our libraries – research reports, technical plans, certification documents, specifications. These prior works are the benchmarks of excellence for me.”
Sinfield said he approaches technical leadership with the same perspective. “Success happens when the leader actively provides the resources, examples, and space for the team to generate knowledge, capture it, and transition it to the point of need.”
He also encourages early-career engineers to ground themselves deeply in one area before branching out. “Focus on getting really good at something; become an expert – read the old reports, understand the context, and write early and often,” he said. “It will pay dividends later when it comes time to organize your testing or write your final report.”
Sinfield was formally recognized with the Dr. Delores M. Etter Award during a virtual ceremony held June 25, 2025. The Etter Award is presented annually by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition (ASN RD&A) to recognize DON scientists and engineers for exceptional technical excellence, innovation, and support of the Navy’s mission. The event included closing remarks from former ASN RD&A and award namesake, Dr. Etter, who congratulated the recipients and highlighted the critical role of science and engineering in the Navy mission.
“You are indeed unsung heroes of national security,” Etter said in a pre-recorded message to recipients. “Congratulations again on your outstanding contributions. I am so proud of each of you.”
In addition to the Etter Award, Sinfield will be honored with the Rear Adm. George W. Melville Award for Engineering Excellence during the 26th Annual Division Honor Awards, set to take place in September. The Melville Award is Carderock’s highest technical recognition, and is part of the Division Honor Awards program, which highlights exemplary employees for their extraordinary contributions to Carderock’s mission and core values. Each year, these awards recognize individuals and teams across the division whose work reflects technical excellence, innovation, leadership, and service to the Navy.
Whether through national-level awards or division honors, Sinfield’s work represents more than a technical milestone. It marks a shift in how the Navy approaches material readiness, documentation, and the role of additive manufacturing in meeting real-world needs.
“There’s still more work to do,” he said. But with a framework now in place, the path forward is clearer – and thanks to Sinfield’s leadership, ready to scale.