The Force Behind The Fleet > Media

NSWC Panama City Division military liaison enables critical contributions to the fleet
June 30, 2025 — Geri Kohler serves as the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division military liaison, and she manages all active-duty personnel and their administrative functions for the #NavyLab. Her efforts help these warfighters to seamlessly mesh and support the mission here while ensuring their operational readiness. For this and the many ways these service members impact this command, Capt. Paul Stence, Jr., NSWC PCD commanding officer, presented her with the Department of the U.S. Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, June 13... MORE

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Commanding Officer Capt. Paul Stence, Jr., awards Geri Kohler, NSWC PCD military liaison, with the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, June 13. Kohler manages all active-duty personnel and their administrative functions warfighters to seamlessly mesh and support the mission here while ensuring their operational readiness. (U.S. Navy photo by Bob Lindee)

NSWC PCD program manager leads, accelerates Navy force generation through MCM USV delivery
June 24, 2025 — The McNaron family arrived in Bay County (then called Washington County) in 1882 and have lived in the area ever since. Today, one member of that family is working to modernize mine countermeasures (MCM) and unmanned fleet capabilities at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) that will leave just as long of a lasting impact... MORE

Ricky McNaron, NSWC PCD Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Unmanned Surface Vehicle and Payload Delivery System program manager, receives recognition from (then) Rear Adm. Casey Moton, Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) program executive officer, April 24, 2023. The Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship MCM mission package and AN/AQS-20 Sonar Mine Detection Sets achieved initial operational capability. (left to right in back) Capt. David Back, (then) NSWC PCD commanding officer, and Capt. Gus Weekes, program manager Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules were also present. (U.S. Navy photo by Eddie Green)

NSWC PCD engineering liaison streamlines acquisition, accelerates readiness
June 23, 2025 — 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 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... MORE

(right) Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Commanding Officer Capt. Paul Stence, Jr., awards Tommy Chatman with the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal, April 18. Chatman was a key contributor in acquiring the Standoff Reacquire Identify Detection Expeditionary Navigation Tool (STRIDENT) production contract for NSWC PCD. 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Anthony Powers)

From Navy veteran to C4I expert: supporting the fleet to fuel combat surge readiness
June 12, 2025 — As a Navy veteran, Evan Sarantos, understands the importance of what force generation, communication and capabilities bring to the warfighter. He has brought that same passion and experience as Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division’s (NSWC PCD) Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence... MORE

Evan Sarantos, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division’s Expeditionary Sea Base Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence Project lead systems engineer, receives the NSWC PCD FY24 Annual Award for Technical Excellence, March 27. This mission is essential to supporting the Force Behind the Fleet as a crucial element for effective modern warfare in complex and dynamic environments. (U.S. Navy photo by Eddie Green)

Navy lab's mine warfare technologies put to the test at IBP 25.5, paving way for future advancements
June 11, 2025 — Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) demonstrated its commitment to supporting the fleet by applying its subsea and seabed warfare expertise during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 25.5. NSWC PCD showcased several key technologies, including the Disposable Reusable Expeditionary Warfare Underwater Vehicle and the Threat Tracker system, highlighting their effectiveness in enhancing mine warfare capabilities. The Barracuda Mine Neutralization System also benefited from insights gained during the exercise, which will inform future development efforts. By actively participating in IBP 25.5, NSWC PCD not only demonstrated its commitment to innovation but also strengthened partnerships with other military units, contributing to a more secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The event allowed the Navy lab to showcase the real-world application of its technologies and help pave the way for future advancements in mine warfare as a force behind the fleet... MORE

Christian Weber, the Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 25.5 technology lead from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, describes the capabilities of the Hangman underwater system to Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Yatsutaka Ebata, commander, Escort Flotilla 2, and Capt. Antonio Hyde, commodore, Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7, during the IBP 25.5 technology demonstration aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM 10), at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, May 15, 2025. Exercises such as Integrated Battle Problem allow the Navy to demonstrate unmanned system operations in relevant experiment scenarios to meet service level objectives and operationalize unmanned systems and capabilities to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class W. Chase Stephens. Portions of this photo have been obscured for security purposes.)

NSWC PCD team awarded for innovative underwater navigation system, bolsters maritime security
June 9, 2025 — Members from NSWC PCD's Standoff Target Reacquire Identify Detection Expeditionary Navigation Tool (STRIDENT) Program recently received the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal. This milestone signifies a major accomplishment, as the STRIDENT system, with its technologically advanced yet lightweight design, will significantly enhance warfighter capabilities while leveraging innovative acquisition approaches, and reducing both time and cost associated with fielding new equipment... MORE

Members from the NSWC PCD Standoff Target Reacquire Identify Detection Expeditionary Navigation Tool (STRIDENT) Program receive the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal for enhancing warfighter capabilities, April 18, 2025. (from left) David Trexler, Dr. John Kelly, Steven Roberts, Aaron Burghardt, Joshua Lowe, Jonathan Outlaw, and Christine Livingston (not pictured). (U.S. Navy photo by Anthony Powers)

Beneath the surface: How Panama City keeps military divers on the cutting edge
May 29, 2025 — For the military diver, the unforgiving depths can be a perilous arena. Since August 1, 1882, U.S. Navy sailors have executed essential underwater operations around the globe, from special operations and reconnaissance to ship repair and force protection. Yet these military divers are also at the forefront of subsea and seabed warfare, wielding... MORE

David Coan, extra vehicular activity lead for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center dives at the Aquarius Reef Base underwater habitat.donning a Kirby Morgan-37 helmet equipped with the Divers Augmented Vision Device Generation 1.0 heads-up display during the 23rd NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations in June 2019.

Program enables collaboration with Florida Atlantic University, provides source for specialized NSWC Panama City Division talent
May 23, 2025 — Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) is collaborating with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) on a Naval Engineering Education Consortium (NEEC) project, led by professor Dr. Manhar Dhanak, to develop “an integrated sensor system for concurrent measurement of electrical and magnetic fields in the water column.”The current... MORE

Garrett Flitton, (now) NSWC PCD engineer, tests an attitude sensing system he developed for a tow-fish based sensor package as a Naval Engineering Education Consortium (NEEC) program student at Florida Atlantic University, March 5, 2024. He is one of several FAU students who were hired at NSWC Panama City Division through the NEEC program. (courtesy photo)

From hurricane recovery to complex acquisitions: NSWC PCD contract specialist excels, earns recognition
May 12, 2025 — Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) is committed to serving the nation, the warfighter and the mission, but that’s nearly impossible without the infrastructure to achieve success.Matthew Hammond, NSWC PCD contracting officer, has been with this Navy lab over five years and has helped the command by navigating through... MORE

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division's Mission:
To conduct research, development, test and evaluation, in-service support of mine warfare systems, mines, naval special warfare systems, diving and life support systems, amphibious/expeditionary maneuver warfare systems, other missions that occur primarily in coastal (littoral) regions and to execute other responsibilities as assigned by the Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Vision:
Ensuring Warfighting Dominance in the Littoral Battlespace.

NSWC Panama City contracting officer streamlines acquisition to enhance readiness
May 6, 2025 — Dr. Luis R. Gely, supervisory contracting officer at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), received the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal for exceptional contributions to the command's Contracting Department (Code 02), March 14.He was recognized for his dedicated effort that provided improved... MORE

(right) NSWC PCD Commanding Officer Capt. Paul Stence, Jr., awards Dr. Luis Gely, NSWC PCD supervisory contracting officer, the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal, Mar.14. His dedicated effort was recognized for providing acquisition professionals with improved resources and processes directly supports the warfighter's littoral dominance from seabed to space. (U.S. Navy photo by Eddie Green)

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