December 11, 2015
South Potomac Pilot NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUTH POTOMAC DEFENSE COMMUNITY
NSWCDD-Mentored Students Fire First Electromagnetic Railgun Shot at Virginia Tech By John Joyce, NSWCDD Corporate Communications
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Commandant’s Corner Page 3
BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech students fired the university’s electromagnetic railgun for the first time as their U.S. Navy railgun advisors observed the demonstration here Dec. 4. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) railgun experts mentored the students throughout the electromagnetic railgun development cycle. “What Virginia Tech has accomplished here is impressive and an important investment for the nation’s railgun development efforts,” said Dohn Burnett NSWCDD Deputy Technical Director. “It provides an excellent test bed for research and a very effective way to develop scientists and engineers who will be able to hit the ground running to help field this capability.” NSWCDD engineers advised their Virginia Tech protégés as the students worked on high power systems and project reviews at a Virginia Tech laboratory.
Virginia Tech students studying electromagnetic railgun technology are pictured during a break in their work at the university’s Energy Conversion Systems Laboratory in Blacksburg, Va. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division scientists and engineers mentored the students who fired Virginia Tech’s electromagnetic railgun for the first time Dec. 4. “Working in the Energy Conversion Systems Laboratory provided a unique out-of-the classroom college experience where I was able apply my engineering education to solve real and complex challenges,” said Virginia Tech student George Hric. “My experience working with railgun technology inspired me to pursue a career in the
defense industry.” In all, the university’s reduced-scale railgun program attracted and inspired over 150 students from all engineering disciplines to participate in hands-on research. “The Virginia Tech electromagnetic railgun proved to be an effective recruiting opportunity,” said John
Wright, an NSWCDD senior engineer and the command’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics coordinator. “The seven interns who joined our Pulsed Power Branch last summer significantly contributed to the development of the Navy’s Railgun Program.” The collaboration began in 2011 when Naval Engineering Education Center (NEEC) and NSWCDD worked with Virginia Tech professor Hardus Odendaal and his graduate and undergraduate engineering students in their efforts to build a reduced-scale railgun with a novel energy recovery feature. “The quality of the research aspect cannot be overstated,” said Odendaal, an electrical and computer engineering professor specializing in electromagnetics. “Almost every aspect of the railgun system, from the simplest mechanical part to the most complex, such as the circuits for the custom fiber-optic-isolated networked-data-acquisition system printed circuit
See Students, Page 4
Do You Want to Build a Snowman? By Barbara Wagner, staff writer
Or at least, that is the question that Kelly Penney and Susan Andrews want you to answer! Penney and Andrews are your Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren Craftech staff and they have several exciting projects in the works for this holiday season including a 4-foot-tall snowman to bring the joy of the season to your home. If you haven’t visited the Craftech shop recently, then you are missing out on many wonderful projects and classes as well as gifts ideas for all occasions. With the recent retirement of longtime Craftech manager Cordy Dickson, NSF Dahlgren Craftech has seen a change in staff with Penney stepping up as manager. Penney, a native of Mildenhall, England is a relatively recent transplant to the Dahlgren area as well having moved to Dahlgren with her husband John in July of 2010, when he took a position at one of the base’s major tenant commands. “We had a week to be prepared to leave; we rented the house, sold all our furniture and cars and on Friday night we still didn’t know if we could even get a mortgage here in the states and we were leaving on Monday!” Penney said.
The adjustment period was not without its trials and Penney can recall her concerns upon landing in the United States with a smile now, but at the time there were many fears and not just a little trepidation. “I remember thinking what have we done? What If we don’t like the house? What if we don’t like it here? My husband is from San Diego so it was an adjustment for him as well,” Penney explained. “It has taken some getting used to, but I have to say that everyone was really friendly and helpful. Everyone here has been brilliant, especially the Craftech family.” Penney shared how she began her career with the Craftech Family back in 2010 with a smile as well. “I’m a crafty person,” she shared. “So I thought I would just pop in over here [at Craftech] one day — and I haven’t left yet. It’s a great job — I get to come to work and work on my hobbies!” Penney and Andrews have been crafting a few changes around the shop, including plans to showcase some new items for the engraving side of the shop. Penney hopes to have some more nautical themed items, as well as specialties for retirees from all branches of the military. “Although Craftech is known as a craft and hobby
See Snowman, Page 7
U.S. Navy photo by Barbara Wagner
Kelly Penney and Susan Andrews of NSF Dahlgren Craftech are offering a “Do you Want to Build a Snowman?” class at their location at 6123 Jenkins Road (Bldg. 2007 location). Call 540-653-1730 for more information about this and the many other classes offered at the Craftech shop.
FREE CLASSIFIED ADS FOR MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES E-mail nsasp_pao_dlgr@navy.mil or Call (540) 653-8153