BETHESDA, Md. – Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division joined naval warfare center divisions across the enterprise Feb. 23-27, 2026, to celebrate Engineers Week, to highlight the Navy’s commitment to innovation, technical excellence and the engineers who design and sustain the future fleet.
Engineers Week, founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, recognizes the contributions of current engineers while inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. At Carderock, that inspiration has a direct impact on the mission.
In a message to the workforce, Rear Adm. Pete Small, Commander, Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers, emphasized the transformative power of the profession.
“We don’t just witness the future – we build it,” Small said. “Engineering is about curiosity, solving complex problems, and turning ideas into reality.”
He recognized the technical expertise across Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the warfare center enterprise, noting that engineers remain the force behind the fleet, ensuring naval platforms are ready, capable, and technologically superior.
“We are the Navy’s trusted center for technical expertise, and the work you do within our labs, our workshops and our world-renowned facilities is truly second to none.”
Capt. Chris Matassa, Carderock’s commanding officer, also provided an address to local attendees, emphasizing the technical expertise of Carderock’s engineers.
“Your curiosity and ingenuity are what give our warfighters their decisive edge,” Matassa said. “This week is about celebrating your contributions. Thank you for your relentless dedication to excellence and for continuing to set the standard for naval engineering.”
Throughout the week, Carderock hosted several virtual and in-person technical briefs, as well as a poster session and engagement events held at Carderock’s Raye Montague Center. Enterprise-wide virtual events complemented local programming, offering sessions on modular open systems approaches, model-based systems engineering, and advanced manufacturing practices – all reinforcing the Navy’s focus on disciplined innovation and interoperability.
Presentations included:
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“Engineers Week Brief,” delivered by Lars Brown, SEA 05W deputy navigation technical warrant, connecting technical authority to enterprise-wide impact.
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“The Benefits of Mentoring: An Engineer’s Perspective,” featuring Courtney Lake and Peter McCauley, emphasizing workforce development and the importance of cultivating the next generation of technical leaders.
Beyond formal presentations, the event created opportunities for curiosity and community engagement. The Carderock Library hosted a “Fall in Love with a Book” event to promote the command’s technical library resources as well as non-technical titles to build camaraderie, and the STEM team hosted a hands-on demonstration featuring Ozobot robots, giving employees a close-up look at the principles of robotics and engineering in action.
Engineers Week was not just a celebration of the profession, but a reaffirmation of its responsibility: to innovate with purpose, to collaborate with discipline and to deliver technical solutions that strengthen a resilient and mission-ready fleet.