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Engineers launch unmanned vessels and new ideas at NSWCDD Workforce Development Innovation Challenge
July 2, 2025 — The first team of scientists and engineers arrive at Upper Machodoc Creek on a still and steamy summer morning. They’ve brought with them a field-ready research station: a laptop computer, a controller, a base station and a BlueBoat — a small, unmanned vessel commonly used in robotics operations.A heron stands sentry at the water’s edge; farther... MORE

DAHLGREN, Va. – Cyber Engineer Alex Brown of Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Dam Neck Activity and NSWCDD engineer Roel Choi calibrate their team’s BlueBoat prior to launching. The two were participating alongside their team in a Workforce Development Innovation Challenge to develop a small, unmanned vessel with commercially available software and hardware to conduct autonomous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions on the water. (Dave Ellis/NSWCDD Photo)

Navy veteran leads the charge in troubleshooting electromagnetic compatibility challenges
June 30, 2025 — When Bob Nees first enlisted in the Navy in 1979, he didn’t realize he was kicking off a career that would span decades, cross industries and firmly establish him as a trusted expert in solving the seemingly unsolvable.From his early days as an aviation fire control technician to his current role as an engineering manager of Surface Warfare Systems... MORE

DAHLGREN, Va. – Bob Nees, the engineering manager for Surface Warfare Systems for Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Technical Warrant Holder at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), is known as the electromagnetic compatibility “troubleshooter” in Navy circles at one of NSWCDD’s anechoic chambers for MIL-STD-461 testing

The shield of the fleet: The Aegis Combat System and its vital role in U.S. Navy operations
June 23, 2025 — The evolution of naval defense systems reflects a timeline of innovation, each breakthrough addressing increasingly complex global threats. Among these monumental advancements, the Aegis Combat System stands as a seminal chapter in the U.S. Navy’s pursuit of unmatched lethality and operational effectiveness. However, its true power extends beyond... MORE

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — USS Little Rock (CLG 4) fires a Talos guided missile while off San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Nov. 16, 1961. (Seaman Lenhoff/Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.)

Capturing the unseen: The role of high-speed cameras in weapon advancements
May 29, 2025 — The spin rate and velocity of a projectile shot from a five-inch gun are so fast only a camera capturing 75,000 frames per second can freeze it mid-flight. At this speed, unseen phenomena become visible, revealing critical data that underpins the precision and impact of modern weapon systems. At Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division... MORE

DAHLGREN, Va. — Since arriving at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in 2006, engineer David Dukes has witnessed the evolution of high-speed cameras. From limited cameras that could only capture images for a few seconds at a few thousand frames per second (fps) to modern equipment capable of capturing 75,000 fps for a full minute at maximum resolution, Dukes has seen it all. (Dave Ellis/NSWCDD Photo)

NSWC Dahlgren's True Soria utilizes creativity and simplicity in advancing Navy lethality and promoting STEM
May 2, 2025 — True Soria has always had a talent for solving complex problems. Now, as a computer scientist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), he spends his days shaping the future of the U.S. Navy’s lethality by re-architecting critical systems. But his impact goes beyond technical expertise.Soria’s work on the Navy's... MORE

True Soria, a computer scientist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), mentors students at King George Middle School during Robotics Week. This program is part of NSWCDD's K-12 STEM Outreach initiatives, highlighting the organization's commitment to supporting in-class robotics workshops and lessons facilitated by NSWCDD engineers at local schools. (Dorina Watermolen/NSWCDD photo)

Dahlgren celebrates 100 years of UAV innovation: From biplanes to quadcopters
March 25, 2025 — One hundred years ago, on a stretch of the Potomac River, a small group of engineers and scientists made history with the flight of the United States' first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This moment, now a cornerstone in the long legacy of Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), marked the beginning of a century of innovation in... MORE

The first radio-controlled plane was an open cockpit, amphibious biplane. Its first totally unmanned flight took place September 15, 1924 (NSWCDD photo by Morgan Tabor).

The Heritage Hour: A Glance into the Vital History of Norfolk Naval Shipyard
March 14, 2025 — 2025 marks the 250th birthday of the United States Navy. In celebration and reflection of this most momentous milestone, we will be looking at how Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) has directly supported the U.S. Navy throughout the centuries. This time on Heritage Hour, we look back at the construction of Dry Dock 3 and see the work done over 100 years ago was completed with the technology of the time... MORE

This composite photograph from September 29, 1910 shows Norfolk Naval Shipyard looking east and southeast towards the Elizabeth River, providing a panoramic view of the extension of Dry Dock 3.

From the Scout Oath to the Officer’s Oath: Cmdr. Brian Banazwski becomes Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Business and Strategic Planning Officer
March 14, 2025 — Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Business and Strategic Planning Officer Cmdr. Brian Banazwski says that becoming a Scouts of America Eagle Scout helped him prepare for a successful Navy career without realizing it at the time... MORE

Cmdr. Brian Banazwki recently became Norfolk Navy Shipyard’s Business and Strategic Planning Officer (Code 1200). The Business and Strategic Planning Office could be considered as the front office of the shipyard. Any business coming into or leaving the shipyard comes through Code 1200. It's the new work, availabilities and other things that the shipyard works on. Outside stakeholders and outside customers, everything goes through the business office, which gets planned through the rest of the shipyard, executed, and then leaves the shipyard as a final product.

Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren inspires middle school students in STEM
November 22, 2024 — The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), in partnership with the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg Regional Military Affairs Council and SimVentions, hosted the second Middle School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren (ICAD) on Nov. 9, bringing together 20 teams from 17 schools across 11 school districts and the... MORE

The team from A.G. Wright Middle School celebrates their first-place victory at the Middle School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren, showcasing exceptional robotics and STEM skills throughout the competition. (Morgan Tabor/NSWCDD)

NSWC Dahlgren Division celebrates academic achievements
October 30, 2024 — Continuing education is the whetstone Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) leadership uses to sharpen the tip of the spear in developing innovative weapon systems for the Navy warfighter that will deter and defeat our nation’s adversaries. In fiscal year 2024, NSWCDD spent over $2.3 million on tuition through its Academic... MORE

NSWCDD hosted its annual Academic Recognition Ceremony at the University of Mary Washington Dahlgren Campus on Tuesday, October 29, 2024

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