The intrigue of problem-solving is a driving force for NSWCDD software developer

ByDianaStefko

Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Thereisareasonwhycrime-fightingshows murder mysteries and whodunit thrillers intrigueandenticesomanyaudiences.Following the clues, piecing the puzzles together and making analytical conclusions are all done in thenameoftryingtosolvethemysteryorfiguringoutwhowastheculprit It’sachallengethat appealstoourcuriosity.

EmersonBongaenjoyedengaginghisproblem-solving mentality and skills to find the answerswhenwatchingshows,moviesorreadingbooksinthegenre.Throughouthiseducation and career journey at the Naval Surface WarfareCenterDahlgrenDivision(NSWCDD), hisinterestandaptitudewereevident.

“Growingup,IusedtowatchshowslikeNCIS andCSIandwouldtrytosolvethecasewiththe detectives.It’swhatmademewanttogointothe psychologyfieldinthefirstplace,”saidBonga. However, after attending an orientation where potential students learned about the various majors and programs offered at James Madison University (JMU), he decided computer science best aligned with his career goals. He earnedhisbachelor’sincomputersciencefrom JMUin2018.

He joined the NSWCDD workforce as a contractor in the fall of 2018 and then transitioned into a government position where he hasbeenworkingasoneoftheleadingsoftware developers for the Digital Modeling Division withintheWarfareAnalysisandDigitalModelingDepartmentforthepastfiveyears.

“I saw a job posting at a contract company here in Virginia and how they had Navy contracts that they were looking for new hires tosupport Ithoughtitwastheperfectopportunitytostartmyprofessionalcareer,”Bongasaid “Iwouldstillbeareasonabledistancefrommy familywhilealsosupportingtheNavythathad beenabigpartofmychildhood.”

DevelopingsoftwaresystemsrequiresBonga’s solution-based thinking and technical knowledge As a versatile developer he supported Fleet

KillChainAnalysisandAdvancedFramework for Simulation Integration and Modeling, a softwaresimulationtoolusedasanengagement and mission-level operations analytic simulationenvironment He is also heavily involved in the software development and integration of systems communications capabilities for the ModelingandSimulationToolboxandtheIntegrated ThreatAnalysisSimulationEnvironment.“We havemanytoolsthatwe’reresponsibleforand, forthemostpart I’mresponsibleforthebehaviors of the models such as how you want the models to react to a simulation,” said Bonga. “We work closely with the Mission Analysis Branch within our division so they can do theirpartinanalyzingdatageneratedfromour modelingandsimulationtools.

AsasonofaNavyveteran,Bongahasvested interestinsupportingtheNavyanditsmission.

BorninConcord California Bongaandhis familymovedeverytwotothreeyears across theU.S.toJapan,ItalyandbackstatesidetoWest Virginia and Virginia. “The Navy has always beenapartofmylife.WhenIhadtheopportunitytofullysupportsystemssoftwaredevelopmenthereatDahlgren,Iknewitwasmywayof givingbacktoournation.”

Both of his parents migrated to the United States from the Philippines as young adults with his father’s side settling in Long Island, NewYorkandmostofhismother’ssidestaying in the Philippines. His father joined the Navy soonaftermovingtotheU.S.andhasenjoyeda successful20-yearcareer

BongatravelstothePhilippineswhenpossible to visit extended family who he says have always been welcoming, friendly and loving HeenjoysincorporatingFilipinotraditionsand culture, such as traditional dishes and music, into his everyday life as well as when spending time with his family “It’s a tradition to havekaraokeatanyFilipinoparty,soIgrewup listeningtodifferentkindsofmusic,”hesaid “I grew up eating good food like chicken adobo andsinigangsoup andmyparentsstillgiveme containersfulltotakehome.”

NAVFAC MIDLANT awards multiple-construction contracts for utility mechanical construction services in Hampton Roads

FromNavalFacilitiesEngineering SystemsCommandMid-Atlantic

NORFOLK, Va Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFACMIDLANT)awardedacombined maximumvalueof$95,000,000 firm-fixedprice indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity design-build and design-bid-build multiple-construction contract for utility mechanical construction services in the Hampton Roads area to the following contractors:MIGGOV(N4008523D0043), Virginia Beach, Virginia; CCI Group, LLC (N4008523D0044), Manchester, Maine; EtolinStraitAssociates(N4008523D0045),

Norfolk, Virginia; Goshawk, LLC (N4008523D0046, San Antonio, Texas; Ocean Construction Services, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (N4008523D0047); and TYBe-Garney Federal JV, LLC, Newbern, Tennessee (N4008523D0048). These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awardedcontract

Work will be primarily performed in the Hampton Roads area, however, work may also be required in other areas within the NAVFAC MIDLANT area of responsibility, ifdeemednecessary.

Work is expected to be completed by May 2028 Each awardee will be awarded

$5,000attimeofawardinordertosatisfythe minimum guarantee. Fiscal year (FY) 2023 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $30,000 will be obligated at time of award, and will expire at the end ofthecurrentFY Futuretaskorderswillbe primarily funded by operation and maintenance (Navy), and military construction (Navy)funds Thiscontractwascompetitivelyprocured viatheSAM.govwebsite,withsevenproposals received. NAVFAC MIDLANT is the contractingactivity NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering,publicworksandenvironmental products and services across an area of responsibility that spans from South Carolina to Maine, and as far west as Michigan, anddowntoIndiana.Asanintegralmember of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic team, NAVFAC MIDLANT provides leadership through the Regional Engineer organizationtoensuretheregion’sfacilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently andeffectively For additional information about NAVFACMIDLANTonsocialmedia,follow ouractivitiesonFacebookatwww.facebook. com/navfacmidatlanticandonInstagram@ navfacmidatlantic.

Editorial Staff

MilitaryEditor | MC1 Maddelin Hamm 757-322-2853 | maddelin.v.hamm.mil@us.navy.mil

AssistantEditor | MC2 Leo Katsareas

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Contributing Staff Ninoshka Basantes Kaitlyn Hewett MC3 Jordan Grimes 757-322-2853 | news@flagshipnews.com

Flagship, Inc. MNVMilitary Manager | Ski Miller ski.miller@virginiamedia.com

ByMadelineKeenan

Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Excitement and energy were in the air at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference CenterMay3asindustrypartnersgathered fortheNavalSurfaceWarfareCenterDahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Small Business OutreachandEngagementEvent.Approximately350attendeesrepresentedmorethan

300businesses

The event informs industry partners of the strategic direction and environmental factorsinfluencingthefutureofNSWCDD

The gathering also encourages an atmosphere of networking and discussion with industry partners to further the mission of NSWCDDandtheNavyasawhole

WithNSWCDD’sexpansiveresearchand diverse portfolio, all of the briefings for the day focused on five main strategic thrusts: intelligentautomation,softwareengineering revolution, digital engineering, hypersonic weapons advancement, and information superiority

The event kicked off with NSWCDD’s Deputy for Small Business, Allison Strong, who welcomed visitors and stressed the importance of building sustainable partnerships.

“Our goal in the Small Business Office is to develop small businesses and to maximizeopportunitiestoparticipateincontract procurement, Strong said. “We want to equip our organization with a broad base of capable partners to support the division’s mission and strengthen our nation’s economicdevelopment.”

NSWCDD’s Commanding Officer Capt. Philip Mlynarski delivered the Command welcome and provided industry partners withanoverviewofNSWCDD’sportfolio. “Manyofyouhaveworkedwithusbefore, but some of you here are new,” Mlynarski said “So I am excited to see what you are going to bring to the table and how we can partnertogether.”

NSWCDD is the largest federal research and development employer in the state, with4,915governmentemployeesandmore than 3,000 contractors Of the government employees 83% are part of the technical workforce

“Thebiggestthingforme asawarfighter is to make sure those on the front lines are confident with the systems that we have,” Mlynarski said “It really is incumbent on all of you to help us get out there and win I lookforwardtoallofthegreatnessthatwill comefromyourcompanies.”

NSWCDDTechnicalDirectorDaleSisson

Jr SES followed Mlynarski and discussed several topics including threats and strategicpriorities

“How we look at our threats is really pacingeverythingthatwedo,”Sissonsaid.“I amexcitedwhereproductdeliveryisgoing, not just here within the Dahlgren Division, but across the naval research and developmentestablishment.”

“The demand is incredibly strong the strongest we have seen it, and we can’t do it ourselves, Sisson added. “We need your help We will identify the technical areas where we have the expertise and don’t havetheexpertise,andweneedyoutohelp augmentthoseareas.”

After Sisson’s presentation, the floor was open for questions before departmental overviews Each department delivered a briefoverviewofthedepartment’sscopeof work,goals,needsandprojections

After a lunch recess attendees were encouragedtovisitnetworkingtablestations with department representatives for additionaldiscussion.