View from the Bridge By Technical Director Ed Stewart (SES)
Ethics is the core theme of our newsletter this month, and I can think of no better place to turn to for guidance on ethics than from our new Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral John M. Richardson. I received a letter from CNO recently inviting me to attend the May 2016 all Navy Flag Officer and Senior Executive Service (NFOSES) symposium. Embedded in the CNO’s invitation are the underlying themes of ethics and core values that he, along with the rest of Navy leadership, is working diligently to instill throughout the entire Navy workforce (officers, enlisted personnel and civilians) to be integrated and incorporated into everything we do. These values serve as the requisite foundation for achieving CNO’s strategic goals that are reflected in his “Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority,” released in January 2016. So, to my stellar PCD Teammates, I defer this month’s View From The Bridge to our very own CNO by passing along to you excerpts from his NFOSES invitation letter: “…. The challenges facing our Navy are growing in scope, scale, and pace. I firmly believe our continued success in meeting those challenges rests on bonds of trust and confidence—with the American people and within our own ranks. Our Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment serve as the basis for
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this bond, and they define us as a profession. Our recruits are attracted to these values—they are a call to noble service, to something bigger than any individual. Living in line with these values is essential to instilling trust and confidence, and to effective leadership. John Paul Jones recognized this in ‘The Qualifications of a Naval Officer,’ where he rightly noted that—beyond seafaring and warfighting skills . . . to be well obeyed, [an officer] must be perfectly esteemed.’ My contemporary version of this truism is captured in the Design through four core attributes: Integrity, Accountability, Initiative and Toughness. These attributes serve as criteria by which to judge our decisions and ensure our choices reflect our values. I expect some of you will read the words above and say, ‘I’m doing that.’ Others may recognize vulnerabilities in others but not themselves. If you fall into either of these camps, I urge you to step back and reconsider. Words about values, no matter how eloquent, can only go so far. My experience is that, like so many parts of our language, these words have become overused, distorted, and diluted. Our behavior, as an organization and as individuals, must signal our commitment to the values we so often proclaim. As senior leaders, our personal conduct, and the example it sets, are essential to our credibility. To many inside and outside the service, the actual values of the Navy are those we senior leaders demonstrate through our behavior. When we perform superbly, that is justifiably expected. When we misstep, it is a shocking disappointment that brings into question trust and confidence. Some of these missteps are front page news, and rightly so. Others are less visible, but no less harmful. Do we stay quiet when a peer harasses a staff member? Do we thoroughly scrub our travel plans? Do we lean forward to the full extent or our authority, even if it might generate some friction? If we are not vigilant, the deep meaning of our values can become clouded by a sense of entitlement, personal ambition, frustration, anger, or selfishness. We may not always see the privilege of leading our Navy. We may miss the call to earn that privilege each and every day. What matters is that we live according to our values—always. We share a professional and moral ob-
ligation to continuously examine our motivations and personal conduct, and where prepared, adjust our behaviors back in line with our values. Achieving this alignment is best accomplished as a team sport. We cannot relegate this to our legal counselors. We need to help each other and hold each other accountable—this is leader business. Furthermore, we need to select future leaders who have demonstrated estimable character as well as strong operational skill. We often look for new ways to describe our ethic; to find a more eloquent or poignant way to express our commitment to our values. But the answer is simple and active: what matters most is our behavior. It is not enough to assume we are behaving well; we must push ourselves to examine that assumption as part of our day-to-day routine. I’m interested in hearing your ideas on how to execute our duties with moral courage. And I look forward to making progress together.” J. M. Richardson Admiral, U. S. Navy ‘The Qualifications of a Naval Officer’ From letters written by John Paul Jones “It is by no means enough that an officer of the navy should be a capable mariner. He must be that, of course, but also a great deal more. He should be as well a gentleman of liberal education, refined manners, punctilious courtesy, and the nicest sense of personal honor. He should be the soul of tact, patience, justice, firmness, kindness, and charity. No meritorious act of a subordinate should escape his attention or be left to pass without its reward, even if the reward is only a word of approval. Conversely, he should not be blind to a single fault in any subordinate, though at the same time, he should be quick and unfailing to distinguish error from malice, thoughtlessness from incompetency, and well-meant shortcomings from heedless or stupid blunder. In one word, every commander should keep constantly before him the great truth, that to be well obeyed, he must be perfectly esteemed.” I want to thank you all personally for adhering to these values. Although, upon personal reflection, I find that I fall short of these standards, you have my pledge to endeavor to improve. Sincerely, Ed Stewart ♦
Coastal Compass - June 2016
Navy Engineers Develop Next Generation HUD for Diving Helmets By Katherine Mapp, NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
PANAMA CITY, Florida – Summer 2016 is heating up with new and upcoming advances in Navy diving technologies at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD). Underwater Systems Development Project Engineer Dennis Gallagher and his team are developing what can be described as a “next generation” and “futuristic” system for the Navy diving community. The Divers Augmented Vision Display (DAVD) is a high-resolution, see-through head-up display (HUD) embedded directly inside of a diving helmet. This unique system enables divers to have real-time visual display of everything from sector sonar (real-time topside view of the diver’s location and dive site), text messages, diagrams, photographs and even augmented reality videos. Having real-time operational data enables them to be more effective and safe in their missions; providing expanded situational awareness and increased accuracy in navigating to a target; such as a downed aircraft, ship, or other ‘objects of interest.’ Instead of having to rely on pre-dive briefings alone on what they are looking for, how specific items should appear and where they may be located, the DAVD system places the information right before their eyes with a look and feel comparable to a point-of-view video game display. The diver has the ability to turn the HUD on and off and direct topside to re-position display data to different locations on the HUD. “By building this HUD directly inside the dive helmet, instead of attaching a display on the outside, it provides a capability similar to something from an Ironman movie. You have everything you visually need right there within
PANAMA CITY, Florida - Lab simulation view of an augmented reality image of an airplane through the Divers Augmented Vision Display (DAVD). U.S. Navy Photo by Richard Manley (RELEASED) 151130-N-PD526-004
Coastal Compass - May 2016
PANAMA CITY, Florida - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) lead engineer/senior electrical engineer William Hughes III demonstrates the Divers Augmented Vision Display (DAVD) during a lab simulation. U.S. Navy Photo by Richard Manley (RELEASED) 151130-N-PD526-002
the helmet,” Gallagher commented. The DAVD HUD system can be used for various diving missions; including ship husbandry, underwater construction and salvage operations. The same system could eventually be used by first responders and the commercial diving community. As part of its Strategic Plan for 2011-2025 to “… identify, exploit, and develop technology to advance the state-ofthe-art in diving equipment,” Naval Sea Systems Command (00C3) is in the process of developing enhanced sensors such as miniaturized high resolution sonar and enhanced underwater video systems to enable divers to ‘see’ in higher resolution up close, even when water visibility is near zero. These enhanced underwater vision systems would be fed directly into the DAVD HUD. “We constantly engage with the operators. If there is a vision they have, we can make it happen,” Gallagher said. “By having this type of positive on-the-spot feedback, you know you’re going down the right road.” Gallagher and his team have collaborated with and demonstrated the system to more than 20 divers from various commands who shared his vision of this futuristic capability for Navy divers. The team is now working on phase two, where components are being designed to include both helmet systems and full face masks. Divers will conduct in-water simulation testing in October of this year. Phase three will begin in fiscal year 2017 to harden the system for expanded field testing with various dive commands. ♦
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Frost Siblings Follow in Footsteps of Fathers at NSWC PCD By Katherine Mapp, NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
PANAMA CITY, Florida – Similar interests are known to flow through generations. In the Frost family, the desire to pursue engineering careers stems from the hierarchy of the family, the grandfather, and has trickled down to his sons and grandchildren. James Frost, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis System Block I Test and Evaluation Lead and mechanical engineer, had a clear career goal from his childhood. His interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) stemmed from his father, who was previously employed as an electrical engineer. “My father had a hobby of tinkering with cars, small gas engines and other mechanisms. He would always have me help him by passing tools, so I was able to watch him and learn from him,” said Frost. “I believe by watching him, it piqued my interest to pursue a STEM related career.” His desire to work for the U.S. Navy grew from following in his own father’s footsteps. At NSWC PCD, his father worked with Textron Marine and Land Systems on the Landing Craft Air Cushion hovercraft program for several years. Now, Frost has passed along his and his father’s passion of STEM learning to his three children, Kayla, Nicholas and Alexa. “My children have always seemed to have an interest and been eager to learn technical things. All of my kids grew up using computers and technology that made STEM interesting to them,” said Frost. “By exposing my kids to technical things like computers, video games, Lego Mindstorm kits and challenging them to learn these new technologies, I helped inspire their interests in the STEM field.” On May 23, 2016, the two younger Frost siblings, Nicholas and Alexa, began their educational journey as Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) interns. This summer is Nicholas’ second internship at NSWC PCD and Alexa’s first. Frost’s oldest daughter, Kayla, also began her journey to becoming an electrical engineer as a NREIP intern at NSWC PCD during the summer of 2010. She has recently graduated with her master’s
PANAMA CITY, Florida - Alexa Frost, NREIP intern and industrial and systems engineering major, tests continuity as part of a work instruction for the CSTRS Winch Controller Assembly Discrete Input W2 wire harness aboard NSWC Panama City on June 3, 2016. U.S. Navy Photo by Katherine Mapp (RELEASED) 160603-N-PD526-002
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PANAMA CITY, Florida - Nicholas Frost, NREIP intern and chemical engineering major, rebuilds a magnetic crawler vehicle aboard NSWC Panama City on June 2, 2016. U.S. Navy Photo by Katherine Mapp (RELEASED) 160602-N-PD526-001
degree from Virginia Tech and accepted a career with Northrup Grumman as part of their mission systems group performing signal and image processing, as well as applied machine learning. Though Nicholas and Alexa are interning at the same command, they’re doing drastically different things while supporting the same mission. During Nicholas’ internship, he is working on the smart mining initiative (SMI) set based design project. On this project, Nicholas is also involved in SMI prototyping. During her internship, Alexa is working with the MH-60S integration team that will transition the Carriage, Stream, Tow and Recovery System from a research and development project to a Fleet asset. Frost, who has worked at NSWC PCD since 1985, believes that his whole family inspired his children to follow a STEM career path. “I don’t believe it was just me that introduced my children to STEM; the whole family did. From my father and brother, who is an electrical engineer, down to me, we all enjoyed science and math,” Frost said. “This passion has been passed down through the generations to my children.” University of Central Florida industrial engineering major, Alexa Frost, knew from an early age she wanted to pursue a career in engineering. “I always knew I wanted to do something in engineering. When I was researching about specific disciplines, industrial engineering, which deals with the efficiency of systems and processes, really intrigued me,” stated Alexa. “It is such a versatile field and I could work just about anywhere at any type of company.” A point to which Nicholas, Florida State University chemical engineering major, agrees. “I have always enjoyed chemistry but I knew that I wanted to study engineering. I decided that chemical engineering would combine the two and give me the best shot at applying my education to a career that suited me,” said Nicholas. “I still learn about new things that people with STEM degrees can do every day, so I have never
See FROST, page 5 Coastal Compass - June 2016
Inside This Edition View from the Bridge...........................................2 Next Generation HUD for Diving Helmets........ 3 Frost Siblings Follow in Fathers’ Footsteps....... 4 HR: Award Goes To.............................................6 Living in an Ethical Enterprise............................7 People Behind the Products...............................7 Children’s Christmas Party Bake Sale............... 8 NREIP Interns Begin Educational Journey....... 9 DoD Travel: GOVCC Advantage.....................10 Ethics Matters: Navy Core Values................... 11 Diving Optics Expert Prepares for MAST........12 Science Brothers Earn STEM Award..............12 Ethical Election Guidance.................................13 Prepare for Improved MCM Future.................14 Diversity Day 2016 Sparks Unification............15 Out and About the Command: Events............17 LCAC Propeller Shrouds: Teaming..................18 Senate Armed Service Committee..................20 Education Partnership Awards.........................20
On the Coastal Compass Cover Sean McCready is a former U.S. Navy SEAL who today serves NSWC Panama City Division as a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) technician. McCready embodies this month’s Coastal Compass theme about Ethics as Navy SEALs and those who provide support to their missions must make ethical decisions every day. The ethical decisions they make compliment the technically rigorous skills and tactics they use when they build systems, provide support analysis, or deliver support services to the naval special warfare mission spectrum. U.S. Navy photo by Jacqui Barker.
FROST wanted to limit myself. As far as my ideal job as an engineer is concerned, all I know is that I want to be a good engineer, no matter what I am doing.” Not only did the Frost siblings have inspiration from their relatives, but they were also able to partake in various STEM charged activities to enhance their learning. They were involved in “Math Counts,” “Odyssey of the Mind” competitions, “Project Lead the Way” STEM courses, “engineering club,” etc. “I don’t know at what point I decided to further my education in engineering, but I believe that all of these activities had a significant impact on my decision,” said Alexa. “My siblings and I took as many preengineering geared courses in middle and high school and learned about different disciplines in engineering, the processes engineers go through when designing projects and even software programs, such as AutoCAD and Multisim,” added Nicholas. Graduating at the top of their classes, the Frost siblings often participated in STEM activities outside of school as well. Activities included: Florida State University Panama City (FSU PC) STEM Institute, NSWC PCD’s “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day,” Florida Lego League and the Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated’s Engineering Explorer Post Program. In programs such as these, the siblings were able to gain hands-on experience with technology and STEM focused materials. During “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” aboard NSWC PCD, the siblings were exposed to projects such as remote control vehicles, 3D printers, Marine Corps vehicles, as well as being able to see the actual hardware their father and grandfather worked in years passed with regards to the LCAC program. In today’s society, the Frost family feels it is essential for students to follow STEM career paths. “STEM careers are currently in high demand. Our society is moving toward finding ways to improve and evolve. With that, I believe technology and engineering are going to be the driving forces for the future,” commented Alexa. “During our NREIP intern onboarding, the Public Affairs Officer, Jeff Prater, excellently explained some of the main reasons that students are encouraged to pursue STEM educations and careers. What really
Coastal Compass - June 2016
from page 4 resonated with me is how we need to have the ability to compete with other countries around the world in STEM fields to keep our nation at the top,” added Nicholas. “The STEM field is constantly evolving and is becoming a huge asset internationally.” In addition, the siblings believe by having completed a NREIP internship, their education, careers and future will be greatly benefitted. “I think the most beneficial thing the NREIP program provides students is experience in a real engineering environment. We can learn things that you just can’t learn in a classroom,” Alexa said. “In addition to the expansive knowledge we will gain, the ability to have hands-on experience in my chosen degree field is priceless.” To this thought, Nicholas included his personal opinion. “The work experience I have already received from the NREIP program is invaluable and I will only continue to learn more this year. I have already seen what type of possibilities can occur by seeing my sister Kayla go through the same program,” said Nicholas. “Ultimately, I chose to intern at NSWC PCD because, in my opinion, there is no better work experience for an engineering student than to be a part of all of the innovative projects and programs NSWC PCD is involved with.” For wishful future NREIP interns, the siblings lend words of advice. “It is really important to commit to studying hard in school and getting good grades. It was helpful to begin earning dual enrollment credits early in high school to limit having to take heavy course loads,” Alexa said. “It is important for students to stay diligent, keep their GPA’s high and don’t give up.” “For high school students, I suggest that they participate in “Project Lead the Way” courses, as well as getting involved with local STEM camps,” said Nicholas. “Even after you’ve passed the age limit to participate as a student, I suggest everyone to get involved through volunteering in programs such as these.” In addition, both Alexa and Nicholas agree that by having completed a NREIP internship on their resumes, they will stand out among their competitors for future job opportunities. ♦
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Awards & Recognition Bulletin
June 2016
Highlight Achievements
June LOS Awards
Congratulations to: Bill Porter (Project Lead), Dan Flisek (Deputy Lead), Ed Linsenmeyer (Mentor), Gavin Taylor, Kinsey Naud and Rachel Ivy NSWC PCD 3rd Quarter winner of the DoD STEM Education and Outreach Advocate of the Quarter: The “Science Brothers” Team
CE2 James Whitehead, Code CX Received a Joint Service Achievement Medal for his support of Special Operations Command – West Africa from February - March 2015
Audrey Gillian Cynthia Scribner 30 Years John Dudinsky 25 Years Elizabeth Branham 15 Years
ND1 (DSW/EXW) Taylor Arney, Code CXB Received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for his outstanding public service from January 2009 - May 2016
Upcoming Recognition Opportunities Name of Award
35 Years
Target Month
American Indian Science and Engineering Society Awards
June
International Test & Evaluation Association (ITEA) Professional Awards
June
Rising Star Awards
June
National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Lt Gen Thomas R. Ferguson, Jr. Systems Engineering Excellence Award
July
DoD Chief Information Officer Awards
July
Lorene Adams Carmen Burch Ryan Close Earle Eadie Mark Jeffries Richard Kim Matthew Powell 10 Years Ratha An Jonathan Armstrong Laura Holland Hal Rhea David Swart Kimberly Tuttle
NSWC PCD Awards & Recognition Program Manager may be contacted at 234-4808
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Coastal Compass - June 2016
Living in an Ethical Enterprise: Commander’s Intent By Commander Vice Adm. William H. Hilarides and Executive Director William J. Deligne, NAVSEA Enterprise
WASHINGTON — Our day-to-day behavior is based on a set of standards and norms. For the Navy, these behaviors are based in our core values of honor, courage and commitment. Every NAVSEA/PEO teammate must reinforce these values and commit to ethical leadership at every level in the enterprise. We must set the ethical standard for technical and business execution, as well as personal behavior. • The NAVSEA/PEO team is comprised of a diverse and complex set of individuals with different experiences and personal histories. Standards and norms could be different depending on your background. Therefore, our commitment to the Navy’s core values should result in a daily dialogue, remain central to our training programs, and be the underlying fabric of our decision making. Our goal is ethical leadership in everything we do. NAVSEA should be a beacon for principles planning and execution; we can only accomplish this objective through proper focus and diligence. • Ethical standards extend far beyond published laws and regu-
lations. We have a strong starting position for our dialogue in the ethics rules and standards. These standards include 14 principles of ethical conduct as outlined in Executive Order 12674. These principles stipulate that we will not misuse nonpublic information for personal gain, solicit or accept inappropriate gifts, bind the government with unauthorized commitments, misuse federal property, contribute to any type of conflict of interest, or engage in any illegal actions. The nature of our business is complex and may present ethical challenges that do not always lend themselves to simple black and white solutions. Ethical behavior requires that we question every action to ensure we set the right example while promoting honesty, trust and personal accountability. I ask every one of you to rededicate yourself to the ethical principles that guide our daily business at NAVSEA. We must simply focus on doing the right thing. Use the resources available to you: the NAVSEA Legal Office, your chain of command, or review the standards. However, the best resource is a dialogue with your team. Reinforce the principles on a daily basis. We owe these actions to ourselves and to ensure that we always act in the best interest of the Navy and the Nation. ♦
People Behind the Products
Coastal Compass - June 2016
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Coastal Compass
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Coastal Compass is published monthly by NSWC PCD and is an authorized medium for news of general interest about employees of NSWC PCD and their work. Contents of Coastal Compass are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the Department of Defense or Department of the Navy. Coastal Compass’ content is provided and prepared by the NSWC PCD Office of Corporate Communications. For details about submissions, contact NSWC PCD Corporate Communication Editor Dan Broadstreet at (850) 235-5990.
To contact NSWC
Children’s Christmas Party Committee Hosts 2016 Bake Sale PANAMA CITY, Florida - NSWC Panama City Division Electrical Engineer Michael Rowe stops by the Children’s Christmas Party Committee (CCPC) bake sale and fundraiser May 25, 2016 in the NSWC PCD headquarter building. CCPC members from left to right are: Keri Kazebeer, Kate Pennington, Roxanne Batyski, Jodi Hendrix and Annette Desercey. U.S. Navy Photo by Katherine Mapp (RELEASED) 160525-N-PD526-001
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PCD’s Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline, call: (850) 234-4462
Coastal Compass - June 2016
NREIP Interns Begin Educational Journey Aboard NSWC PCD By Katherine Mapp, NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
PANAMA CITY, Florida — Along with the heated temperatures, summer 2016 marked the beginning of a 10-week educational journey for groups of college students to learn about various science, technology, engineering and mathematics related careers as they pertain to the U.S. Navy. In the fall of 2015, more than 1,700 college students applied for the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) and between May and June of 2016, 741 began their internships at various locations across the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) was fortunate to welcome 45 eager and ready-to-learn interns to the command on May 23, 2016. As part of the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) education and outreach initiative, the NREIP provides graduate and undergraduate college students an opportunity to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer. The goal of the NREIP is to encourage participating students to pursue science and engineering careers, to further education via mentoring by laboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of DoN research and technology efforts, which could lead to future employment opportunities within the DoN. NSWC PCD Commanding Officer, Phillip Dawson III, USN, believes serving as an intern at NSWC PCD is a priceless experience. “The internships provide a unique opportunity for students to serve with our scientists, engineers and Fleet operators at NSWC PCD,” said Dawson. “These students will spend their summer learning from some of today’s leading experts in mine warfare, systems engineering and diving and life support, all while providing meaningful work by supporting the Navy’s mission. It truly is a rewarding experience.” NSWC PCD’s Educational Outreach Coordinator, Ed Linsenmeyer, appreciates having an opportunity to speak with students in the local community through STEM outreach. “I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to speak to students about the opportunities offered by NREIP internships,” Linsenmeyer said. “These students become some of our best recruiters because of the very favorable experiences that our program provides to them.” said Linsenmeyer. Linsenmeyer said many of the future scientists and engineers who intern are fascinated at the fact that they are able to work on real Department of Defense (DoD) projects and the positive impact their contributions make to the warfighter. “NREIP has proven to be an excellent way for STEM students to start building their professional resumes,” added Linsenmeyer. “Furthermore the NREIP experience is important step for those students who also desire to apply for the DoD Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service program.” Allie Pilcher, NSWC PCD mechanical engineer and previous NREIP intern, made her dream of working for the Navy a reality, beginning with her internship. Pilcher was an NREIP intern for three consecutive summers before graduating college and accepting a position with NSWC PCD in February 2015. During her internships, she worked with the Human Systems Integration team on a variety of projects.
Coastal Compass - May 2016
PANAMA CITY - Naval Research Enterprise internship Program (NREIP) interns pose together for a group photo aboard Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 66 aboard Naval Surface Warfare Center on June 7, 2016. The program provides an opportunity for students to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer. U.S. Navy Photo by Ron Newsome (RELEASED) 160607-N-PB086-001
“I assisted in testing of ground penetrating radar, medical motion studies involving a simulator in the motion lab, user surveys, as well as testing of dry combat submersibles,” Pilcher said. “I also took part in gathering data and creating charts and graphs to help produce a final test report during one of my internships.” Pilcher’s choice to intern as well as accept employment at NSWC PCD played hand in hand. “I chose to intern at NSWC PCD because I am from the area, it was a great place to list on my resume, the work was interesting to me and helped me decide what I wanted to focus on in my career. Through my internship, I made several great connections,” added Pilcher. “I was offered a job with diving and life support and it was exactly what I was looking for. I love the projects and people I work with; it’s a perfect fit for me.” NREIP interns are selected based upon academic achievement, personal statements, colleague and professor recommendations and career and research interests. In addition, three SMART scholars began their internships on the same date. The SMART program has been established by the DoD to support students in STEM disciplines. The program also aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories. After completion of their internships, the students will leave NSWC Panama City with a wealth of knowledge and the experience of a lifetime. Summer 2016 NSWC PCD NREIP interns include: Partick Amy, Zane Asselin, Patrick Bates, Courtney Battle, Janna Blankenship, Jonathan Boeseman, Trey Brooks, Ryan Burt, Halie Cameron, Drew Christmas, Billy Courson, Michael Crisp, Jerrell Crum, Anthony Davis, Britney Doll, Crystal Figlinski, Daniel Findeis, Alexa Frost, Nicholas Frost, Victoria Hove, Daniel Jermyn, Joshua Johnson, William Jones, Joseph Kennedy, John Lee, Brittany Lindl, Kasey Lugo, Melanie MacBain, Laura McGee, Teresa Patterson, Megan Pavlov, Samuel Peebles, Trevor Phillips, Melissa Pumphrey, Julian Revell, Lauren Rothman, Travis Roy, Elizabeth Shoner, Erin Simmons, Darius Smedley, Matthew Thompson, Steven Warren, Jermiah Welchel and Tripp Wisser. ♦
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Coastal Compass - June 2016
Ethics Matters: Navy Core Values Protect Country and Career By Office of NAVSEA Congressional and Public Affairs
WASHINGTON — About 100 people lost their jobs when services for submarine combat and command and control systems were canceled because a single Navy employee didn’t adhere to the Navy’s core values, according to Ethics and Integrity Resource Champion Cindy Shaver. For Shaver, who oversees thousands of NAVSEA contracting transactions each year, ethical violation can have a significant impact not only on employees, but also on the command’s ability to support the Fleet. “Whenever there’s an ethical lapse, it erodes the confidence of the American people. While failings are few, every bad headline about unethical behavior has the potential to do great damage,” said Shaver. The example in question surrounds the actions of Ralph M. Mariano, a former Navy employee who stole nearly $18 million in Navy contract money through shell companies. ASFT employees lost their jobs and Mariano was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. “Holding oneself to a higher standard requires commitment,” said Shaver. Recently, NAVSEA Commander Vice Adm. William H. Hilarides, released his Commander’s Intent document to reinforce the importance of the Navy’s core values and commitment to ethical leadership at every level in the NAVSEA enterprise. “Everyone needs to rededicate themselves to this ethos which is based on the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment,” said Hilarides. “Truly understanding and embracing these core values promotes ethical values-based decision making for everyone on the NAVSEA-PAO team.” HIlarides also established the Ethics and Integrity Resource Group to assist the command in making sure there is a resilient foundation of moral excellence across the NAVSEA community. The flag/SES champions are Shaver and Rear Adm. Jon Hill (PEO IWS). “Ethical conduct is a command priority for each of us. Even the slightest lapses in how we behave and in our ethical decision-making can erode the confidence placed in us by our Sailors and the public,” said Hill. “Making ethical behavior both a priority and a reality requires a personal commitment.” Program analyst for SEA00X, Juvonnie Kinchen-Schneider said her professional standards are rooted in her personal standards. “My ethical conduct starts by living the core values instilled by my parents, service in the Marine Corps and my life experiences,” said Kinchen-Schneider. “If I truly want to be respected as a person, I need to conduct myself in a way that will be equally respected – I cannot compromise my integrity.” Contracting officer James Lofgren (SEA025) echoes the personal approach. “I try to never lose focus of the importance of safeguarding my in-
Coastal Compass - June 2016
tegrity in both my personal and professional life,” said Lofgren. “For myself, that means doing what is right when no one is looking.” Employees entrusted to manage public resources in their professional capacity have the added responsibility to serve the best interest of the organization and the country, according to Hill. “These representative choices apply to all civilian or uniformed people, especially how to hold themselves to a much higher standard than any other organization to maintain the public’s trust,” said Lofgren. According to the Navy’s core values charter website, these standards are defined as: “HONOR” I am accountable for my professional and personal behavior. I will be mindful of the privilege I have to serve my fellow Americans. I will: • Abide by an uncompromising code of integrity, taking full responsibility for my actions and keeping my word. • Conduct myself in the highest ethical manner in relationships with senior, peers and subordinates. • Be honest and truthful in my dealings within and outside the Department of the Navy. • Make honest recommendations to my seniors and peers and seek honest recommendations from junior personnel. • Encourage new ideas and deliver bad news forthrightly. • Fulfill my legal and ethical responsibilities in my public and personal life. “COURAGE” Courage is the value that gives me the moral and mental strength to do what is right, with confidence and resolution, even in the face of temptation of adversity. I will: • Have the courage to meet the demands of my profession. • Make decisions and act in the best interest of the department of the Navy and the nation, without regard to personal consequences. • Overcome all challenges while adhering to the highest standards of personal conduct and decency. • Be loyal to my nation by ensuring the resources entrusted to me are used in an honest, careful and efficient way. “COMMITMENT’ The day-to-day duty of every man and woman in the Department of the Navy is to join together as a team to improve the quality of our work, our people and ourselves. I will: • Foster respect up and down the chain of command. • Care for the personal and spiritual well-being of my people. • Show respect toward all people without regard to race, religion or gender. • Always strive for positive change and personal improvement. • Exhibit the highest degree of moral character, professional excellence, quality and competence. ♦
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Leading Expert in Diving Optics Prepares for MAST By Jacqui Barker, NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
PANAMA CITY, Florida – Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division’s (NSWC PCD) Lead Optical and Software Engineer for diving systems Richard Manley is preparing to go for Maritime/Air Systems and Technologies (MAST). Manley, a scientist within NSWC PCD’s Intelligent Sensing and Irregular Warfare Branch (Code X12) serves as the Division’s lead optical and software engineer (scientist) for the Information-Data Display Systems and Technologies Group in Code E15 (Underwater Systems Development and Acquisition Branch). The MAST conference will be held in Amsterdam June 2123, 2016. Manley will be presenting the technical paper, Diver’s Full Face Mask Head-Up Display System. Other Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Center technical experts who will present at MAST include:
• Christiane Duarte, Naval Undersea Warfare Center: Update on Autonomous Systems (June 23, 2016) • Christopher Knowlton, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division: Flexible Combat Systems Architectures (June 21, 2016) • John Lisiewicz, Naval Undersea Warfare Center: U.S. Navy Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Technology Challenges and Opportunities (June 23, 2016) • Dr Vittorio Ricci, Naval Undersea Warfare Center: Concepts for Rapid Innovation (June 23, 2016) • Tory Cobb, U.S. Navy: Automated Data Analysis for Mine Warfare Sonar Systems (June 21, 2016) NSWC PCD is one of 12 Warfare Center sites and is responsible for conducting research, development, test and evaluation in mission areas that include: mine warfare; naval special warfare; diving and life support; amphibious and expeditionary maneuver systems and all other missions that occur in the littorals. ♦
NSWC PCD Science Brothers Earn STEM Outreach Award By Jacqui Barker, NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
PANAMA CITY, Florida – The Science Brothers, home based out of Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), were named the STEM Education and Outreach Advocate of the Quarter for the 3rd quarter, fiscal year 2016. The “Science Brothers” is a non-profit outreach program aimed at sparking elementary school students’ interest in STEM activities and offers free, engaging presentations to schools and community organizations. Two main NSWC PCD employees, Dan Flisek and Bill Porter, are the faces of the science demonstrations and shows, but behind the scenes reside a dedicated team of federal civil servants with one focus: educating school-aged children about the fun of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “We are very excited and honored to receive this award,” said Bill Porter. “We work very hard and the students are very receptive. It’s very nice to be recognized for what we do.” The dedicated team consists of the following members: Bill Porter (Project Lead), Dan Flisek (Deputy Lead), Ed Linsenmeyer (Mentor), Gavin Taylor (Team Member), Kinsey Naud (Team Member), and Rachel Ivy (Team Member). This team is truly deserving of the STEM Education and Outreach Advocate of the Quarter award for their exemplary dedication to STEM education and outreach. “If you see Bill Porter, Dan Flisek, Gavin Taylor, Kinsey Naud and Rachel Ivy around campus, don’t forget to congratulate and thank them for putting on a very entertaining show for all ages that showcases for elementary school students how fun and exciting science can be,” said NSWC PCD Technical Director Ed Stewart (SES). “I am confident that
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PANAMA CITY - Science Brothers Bill Porter and Dan Flisek erect a safety barrier to show students at a special presentation how light can be created with chemistry. Flisek wows kids with a wizard-like chemistry experiment the Science Brothers have dubbed, ‘Walking the Dog.’ U.S. Navy Photo by Dan Broadstreet (RELEASED) 120426-N-CM547-004
there are young students who will one day come to work at PCD because they were inspired at one of the Science Brothers shows. Special thanks to Ed Linsenmeyer for serving as mentor.” The Science Brothers formed March 1, 2011 and continue to be requested by schools, military commands and organizations to conduct their STEM outreach presentations across the United States. The STEM Education and Outreach Advocate of the Quarter award ceremony will be held at the Pentagon at the end of June 2016. For more information about the Science Brothers, visit: http://www.sciencebrothers.org. ♦
Coastal Compass - June 2016
Ethical Election Guidance: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities By Office of U.S. Navy Congressional and Public Affairs
WASHINGTON — The next presidential election is not far away. As American citizens, we are free to support the candidate of our choice. But, as navy employees, we need to be careful in how we extend that support to ensure our actions do not result in a misuse of official resources or official time. Additionally, there are rules that govern our off-duty government premises conduct. Below is a summary of these rules, along with links to additional guidance. Civilian Employees For Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, participation in political activity is regulated by a number of sources: the Hatch Act (5 USC 7321 – 7326), implementing regulations (5 CFR 733 and 5 CFR 734), as well as DoD policy. For purposes of the Hatch Act, Political activity is defined as “an activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office or partisan political group.” Importantly, application of the rules varies depending on an employee’s position or office. Thus, it is extremely important that employees know which rules to apply. There are two sets of restrictions for three groups of employees. Group 1 restriction applies to individuals appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate and individuals serving in non-career SES positions. Next, Group 2 encompasses career SES members, contact appeals board members, and all employees of the National Security Agency (NSA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the National Geo-Spatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The third group, which has more lenient restrictions, applies to all other employees. Employees in Groups 1 and 2 are prohibited from taking an active part in partisan political management or political campaigns referred to as “further restricted” employees. These “further restricted” employees are expressly prohibited from participating in political activity. Specificallly, further restricted employees are prohibited from engaging in any political activity which is “in concert” with a political activity that is sponsored or supported by a political party, partisan political group, or candidate for partisan political office. “In concert” activity is any activity that is sponsored or supported by a political party, partisan political group, or candidate for partisan political office. Prohibited activities also include soliciting or receiving political contributions. Further restricted employees may, however, express their personal opinions, make monetary contributions to a campaign, and attend, but not actively participate in, campaign events or fundraising functions sponsored by candidates for partisan political office or political parties. Partisan Political Activity Rules for “Further Restricted” DoD Civilians. Less restricted employees, those in Group 3, may volunteer with a political campaign or political organization in their personal capacities. Examples of permitted volunteer activities include: organizing political rallies and meetings, making phone calls on behalf of a candidate, serving as a delegate to a party convention, and working for a political party to get out the vote on Election Day. These employees are, however, prohibited from soliciting or receiving political contributions. Partisan Political Activity Rules for “Less Restricted” DoD Civilians. Regardless of whether a civilian employee is further restricted or
Coastal Compass - June 2016
less restricted, DoD civilian personnel may never engage in political activity while on-duty or in a Federal building. This means that employees may not send or forward political emails, post political messages to their Facebook page or engage in political tweeting while in a Federal building(including when off-duty), even if the employee is using his personal smartphone, tablet, or computer. Additionally, employees should never use government equipment when engaging in political activities. Active Duty Military The primary guidance concerning political activity for military members is found in DoD Directive 1344.10 [Guidance for Military Personnel]. Per longstanding DoD policy, active duty personnel may not engage in partisan political activities and all military personnel should avoid the inference that their political activities imply or appear to imply DoD sponsorship, approval, or endorsement of a political candidate, campaign, or cause. Members on active duty may not campaign for a partisan candidate, engage in partisan fundraising activities, serve as an officer of a partisan club, or speak before a partisan gathering. Active duty members may, however, express their personal opinion on political candidates and issues, make monetary contributions to a political campaign or organization, and attend political events as a spectator when not in uniform. Social Media Civilian and military personnel may generally express their personal views on public issues or political candidates via social platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, or personal blogs, much the same as they would be permitted to write a letter to the editor of a newspaper. If, when expressing a personal opinion, personnel are identified by a social media site as DoD employees, the posting must clearly and prominently state that the views expressed are those of the individual only and not of the Department of Defense. As previously noted, however, active duty military members and further restricted civilian employees are prohibited from participating in partisan political activity. Therefore, while these employees may “follow” “friend” or “Like” a political party or candidate running for partisan office, they may not post links to, “share” or “re-tweet” comments or tweets from the Facebook page or twitter account of a political party or candidate running for partisan office. Such activity is deemed to constitute participation in political activities. Social media guidance for military members FAQs Political Activities and Members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees Social Media and the Hatch Act offers advice on how to avoid violating the rules. Service members must also be careful not to comment, post, or link to material that violates the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) or Service regulations. Examples include showing contempt for public officials, releasing sensitive information, or posting unprofessional material that is prejudicial to good order and discipline under the UCMJ. General guidance of the Hatch Act may be viewed at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel website at www.osc.gov. Civilian employees with questions should contact the NAVSEA ethics advisor, Nanette Oppenheimer at nanett.oppenheimer@navy. mil or (202) 781-3093. Military employees should contact the NAVSEA JAG, Cmdr. Andrew Smith, andy.a.smith1@navy.mil or (202) 781-4843. ♦
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MCM Sailors Prepare for the Improved Future of Minehunting By Jacqui Barker, NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
PANAMA CITY, Florida – Almost as historic as the first airborne mine countermeasures flight flown in the waters of St. Andrew Bay off the coast of Panama City, Florida in 1952, mine countermeasure Sailors completed AN/AQS-24B sonar upgrade operator and maintenance training May 13, 2016 in Panama City, Florida. Ten Fleet operators assigned to HM-14 and HM-15 helicopter mine squadrons, based out of Norfolk, Virginia learned how to operate the upgraded AN/AQS-24B in the Gulf of Mexico waters while eight maintenance squadron personnel went through Intermediate Maintenance training for the newly upgraded mine hunting sonar system the second week in May 2016. The AN/AQS-24B system gives Sailors the ability to detect, classify, localize and identify modern-day mine threats through enhanced mine hunting sonar, according to Aviation Electricians Mate Second Class James Focacci, HM-14. This is the first Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) crew to have received this training. Airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) subject matter experts from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) in Panama City, Florida trained both the operators and the maintainers on what differences to expect from the upgraded sonar. “Many of the differences in the system are upgrades to supportability and maintainability,” said AN/AQS-24B instructor Ken Condron. “There are fewer obsolescence issues which will translate to much less down time.” The sonar is not entirely brand new to the Sailors or the AN/AQS24B technicians and trainers at NSWC PCD. The upgrades were made to existing fleet hardware via an engineering change proposal which translates into cost savings for the Naval Sea Systems Command PMS 495 cognizant code. NSWC PCD personnel from the AMCM In-Service Engineering
PANAMA CITY - The AN/AQS-24B, sits beside a MH-53E flown by Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron HM-15 “Blackhawks” May 18, 2015 in Manama, Bahrain. The sonar is used for U.S. Navy Fleet airborne mine countermeasures. U.S. Navy photo by Brett Troia. (RELEASED) 150518-NPY562-001
Agent branch (Code A22) completed initial operator training in preparation for the AN/AN/AQS-24B sonar delivery in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016. Once the system is delivered, the Sailors will receive refresher operator and maintenance training before putting the system to use. The AN/AQS-24B sonar offers the U.S. Navy advanced capabilities and performance to hunt for mines on the sea floor and in the water column. In September 2015, manufacturer Northrop Grumman reported the mine hunting system successfully demonstrated the ability to perform synthetic aperture sonar processing at 18 knots in real time. The testing was conducted at U.S. Navy Central Command in Bahrain in May 2015. NSWC Panama City Division AN/AQS-24B team personnel include Project Engineer Aaron Walker, Systems Engineer Brett Thach, and Fielding Lead Brett Troia in addition to A22 personnel, A22 subcontractors and OEM contract personnel. ♦
PANAMA CITY - A complete and recently upgraded AN/AQS-24B mine hunting system sits on the flight deck at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division May 9, 2016 at the end of a week-long AN/AQS-24B operator training event in Panama City, Florida. U.S. Navy photo by Brett Troia. (RELEASED) 160509-N-PY562-008
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Coastal Compass - June 2016
Diversity Day 2016 Sparks Unification throughout Workforce By Katherine Mapp, NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
PANAMA CITY, Florida — Members of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division’s (NSWC PCD) Diversity Council (DC) welcomed the base wide workforce to the semi-annual celebration of diversity in the workplace, more commonly known as “Diversity Day” on May 18, 2016 at the Long Glass Conference Center aboard Naval Support Activity. Diversity Day is a special event which celebrates the contributions of cultural and ethnic backgrounds represented by NSWC PCD employees. Locally, NSWC PCD DC stimulates cultural awareness via the Department of Defense (DoD) for the special observance months of African American/Black History, American Indian Alaskan Native Heritage, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage and Hispanic Heritage. DC Chair Christina Pate says the event gives the NSWC PCD workforce an opportunity to learn about diverse backgrounds and heritage without having to leave the base. “The DC strives to promote and support the monthly DoD wide events surrounding these cultures,” said Pate. “From that, the DC found that they might be able to reach more audience participation if we provided a onestop four-culture event on one day.” The culture-filled and educational celebration began with welcoming remarks by Capt. Phillip Dawson III. “It is so special for our workforce to be able to come together and celebrate all of the different cultures that help make this country what it is. Each culture is so diverse and brings different ways of life,” Dawson said. “With that, we are actually much stronger. And let’s be honest, the food is a lot better.” Each special emphasis program operated a booth representing their specific culture groups. The booths were lined with cultural artifacts, musical instruments, educational interactive games and activities, historical documents and do-it-yourself arts and crafts. From the African American/ Black history booth’s samples of biltong (a form of dried, cured meat that originated in South Africa, which is similar to beef jerky) to the American Indian Alaskan Native booth’s fry bread, everyone’s taste buds were sure to be tantalized. Attendees enjoyed musical and dance performances from a variety of cultural acts. The first act was a presentation by Matthew Shack on the
PANAMA CITY - Gulf Coast State College professor of music, Jimmy “Rusty” Garner, played several inspirational woodwind songs to share Native American experiences with Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Diversity Day attendees May 18, 2016. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Fred Gray (RELEASED) 160518-N-TI693-060
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PANAMA CITY - Sampaguita dancers perform an Asian American Pacific Islander themed dance at Diversity Day located in the Long Glass Conference Center aboard Naval Support Activity Panama City. U.S. Navy Photo by Ed Green (RELEASED) 160518-N-UI581-183
origin of Negro spirituals and a brief history of African American cowboys and the Buffalo Soldiers. The student company of Global Arts Society followed with a contemporary performance of “I Am Diversity,” incorporating modern, African and hip-hop dance with a poetry reading. Performances continued with dance selections by the Sampaguita Association of Panama City to represent Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage and Latin dance routines by Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Panama City to represent Hispanic Heritage. A collection of Native American instrumental music was also performed by Gulf Coast State College Professor of Music, Rusty Garner. Several members of the NSWC PCD workforce provided tasty homemade dishes to share as part of the cooking contest. The DC provided various dishes from a plethora of ethnic backgrounds. The dishes ranged everywhere from collard greens and jambalaya to curry and baklava. Everyone in attendance was instructed to visit each booth, have their event passport stamped and return it after each station had been visited. Once they received all necessary stamps, they were entered into a raffle for a chance to win a reserved parking place. According to Pate, this event is important to both the command and the community. “Diversity is very important because it encompasses acceptance and cultivates respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique for who they are and to appreciate their uniqueness generated from their dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs or other ideologies,” Pate commented. “It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.” According to Pate, Diversity Day allows the opportunity for the community’s participation to have the ability to share the talents and gifts of that culture. In addition, historical presence is preserved through cultural events like Diversity Day that are handed down through multiple generations that blossom and thrive within this medium of educational opportunity. “This event fosters everything the DC supports,” said Pate. DC African American/Black Special Emphasis Program Manager
See DIVERSITY, page 16
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Highlights from May 18, 2016 Diversity Day Celebration
PANAMA CITY - The student company of Global Arts Society perform a contemporary dance called, “I Am Diversity,” incorporating modern African and hip-hop art with a poetry reading. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communications Specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class Fred Gray. (RELEASED) 160518-N-PD526-010
PANAMA CITY - Human Resource Specialist Kibwa Walker (left) and Public Afffairs Officer Jeff Prater (right) load up plates with various samples of ethnic cuisine. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Employees donated a variety multi-cultural foods for the event. U.S. Navy Photo by Eddie Green. (RELEASED) 160518-N-UI581-192
PANAMA CITY - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Commanding Officer, Capt. Phillip Dawson, poses with performers from Fred Astaire Dance Studio after presenting them with certificates of appreciation at Diversity Day May 18, 2016. U.S. Navy Photo by Katherine Mapp (RELEASED) 160518-N-PD526-012
DIVERSITY (SEPM) Dr. Wendell Saintval describes the event as having a special and meaningful purpose. “Within the hearts and minds of many workforce members are traditions and cultural practices. Our local community has a wealth of national and international talent and information,” Saintval commented. “Valuable access to these worldwide practices and perspectives is available at Diversity Day.” Rachel Ivy, DC co-chair, says Diversity Day is an opportunity for broadening the community’s cultural and historical knowledge. “Diversity Day is a day, not just to celebrate and recognize the cultures that make up this vast melting pot, but really, to engage and learn about the people and their history. I have learned so much just by being a member of
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from page 15 the DC,” Ivy exclaimed. Asian American Pacific Islander SEPM Heidi Lecklitner sees the event as a way to unite the workforce and help appreciate both the similarities and differences among everyone’s cultures. “Diversity Day is a great event for our diverse workforce and local community to appreciate and respect our differences, but also to recognize our commonalities,” said Lecklitner. “In combination, this diversity makes us better overall and draws us closer together.” This is the fourth Diversity Day that NSWC PCD DC has held. DC holds several diversity recognition events throughout each year; all of which center around unifying the workforce. ♦
Coastal Compass - June 2016
Out and About the Command: Commemorative Events
PANAMA CITY - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Executive Officer Cmdr. Paul Werring, USN, frocks Navy Diver 2nd Class Harrison Greenmaki to the rank of first class petty officer during a military ceremony in the command’s aviation unit June 3, 2016. 160603-N-UI581315 (RELEASED). U.S. Navy photo by Ed Green.
PANAMA CITY - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Executive Officer Cmdr. Paul Werring, USN, frocks Navy Diver Chief Petty Officer Stephen Lowe to the rank of senior chief petty officer during a military ceremony in the command’s aviation unit June 3, 2016. 160603N-UI581-299 (RELEASED). U.S. Navy photo by Ed Green.
ATLANTA - Navy Diver 2nd Class Taylor Arney, far left, and Navy Diver Chief Petty Officer Stephen Lowe, second from left, along with other Panama City, Florida Navy divers don their dive gear in preparation for Arney’s underwater reenlistment May 13, 2016 at the Atlanta Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Aquarium. (RELEASED) 160525-N-PY526-005
Coastal Compass - June 2016
PANAMA CITY - Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Executive Officer Cmdr. Paul Werring, USN, frocks Navy Diver 2nd Class Tyler Woodard to the rank of first class petty officer during a military ceremony in the command’s aviation unit June 3, 2016. 160603-N-UI581-307 (RELEASED). U.S. Navy photo by Ed Green.
PANAMA CITY - Brad Hopkins, ship master of U.S. Navy M/V Sea Fighter (FSF-1) participates in an interview off the coast of Florida May 6, 2016, during Exercise Emerald Warrior 16. Emerald Warrior is a U.S. Special Operations Command sponsored mission rehearsal exercise during which joint special operations forces train to respond to real and emerging worldwide threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Logan Carlson)
PANAMA CITY - Branch Medical Clinic Executive Director Joe Negron (left) and Bay County School Superintendent Bill Husfelt pose with HM1 Danielle Duty who was recognized at the 6th Annual Education Partnership Award Ceremony at the Long Glass Conference Center aboard Naval Support Activity Panama City Division on June 3, 2016. U.S. Navy Photo by Jacqui Barker (RELEASED) 160606-N-PY562-002
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LCAC Propeller Shrouds The Government Service- Defense Contract Partner Team and the Culture of Affordability
O
By NSWC PCD Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
riginally, the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) was designed for a 20 year service life. In the mid-2000s, the Navy began a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) to add 10 additional years of service life. Not only did SLEP modernize the LCACs with state of the art C4N systems, upgraded engines, a new Deep Skirt, hull repairs, and larger fuel tanks, it also addressed aging issues with the propulsion system equipment. NSWC Panama City, the InService Engineering Agent for the LCAC, pursued development for all types of repairs and upgrades. The propeller shrouds in particular, received several major upgrades. The LCAC propeller shroud Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) ceased production shortly before LCAC production ended, which was nearly a decade before the LCAC SLEP began. The OEM had provided upgrades to the design throughout the life of the craft, however, today that OEM is limited to building new stators, which are very expensive and have a very long lead time. It was apparent that there was a need to reduce these costs and speed up the repairs as there simply were not enough dollars to replace all of the propeller shrouds currently in the Fleet.
shrouds to the Fleet in support of their Fixed Price Contract Maintenance on a schedule which prevents delay, disruption and additional costs. Over the last couple of years, that has meant an average of one Ready for Issue propeller shroud per month.
“If the Fleet wants to replace a stator, they order one from the Navy Supply System and we supply the repaired stators to NAVSUP,” said Campbell. “A brand new stator can cost approximately $6070K and require 24-36 months to acquire. A rebuilt stator from the Panama City Depot is less than “The Depot work is accomplished a third of that cost and can now by highly skilled technicians, a be repaired in a matter of weeks.” government service-defense contract partner team, comprised In addition to supplying shrouds of our folks here at NSWC Panama for SLEP LCACs, which concludes City, Gryphon Technologies, ITA in 2016-2017, NSWC PCD International and HubzoneHQ, also provides shrouds for Fleet which complete this work,” Modernization Program efforts said NSWC PCD Project Lead and now Post SLEP Extension Engineer, Glenn Campbell maintenance availabilities. These repairs are done in support of all LCAC Fleet Maintenance Availabilities where a pre-overhaul test and inspection finds that the propeller shroud requires upgrades or repairs that are beyond the capabilities of the Intermediate Maintenance Organization at the Assault Craft Units (ACU) or the Maintenance Contractors at the ACUs.
“Because SLEP LCACs are approaching the end of that 10 year life extension and will be required to last another five years until replaced by the next generation craft, the Ship to Shore Connector (LCAC-100),” Campbell said about the next challenge. As the LCAC-1 class are retired and replaced by LCAC-100 class, shrouds will likely be removed, repaired and preserved. The Panama City Depot work will continue for at least the next five years and probably longer in order to meet US Fleet demand and also to support a Foreign Military Sales effort with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, which operate six LCAC’s purchased in the mid 1990’s.
The shrouds are removed from the LCAC at their Operational Units and trucked to Panama City, where each will receive reworked stators (five struts that support the propeller), stator mounts, aft foundation fittings, and any other The LCAC Program Office directed repairs/upgrades as required. Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) The NSWC PCD Depot now has to stand up an overhaul organization the ability to rework one shroud to conduct Depot Level repairs on per month. NAVSUP supports the NSWC PCD: Technical Center of LCAC propeller shrouds and to propeller shroud stators and the Excellence for Littoral Warfare and match the demand from the Fleet. Depot is the Designated Overhaul Coastal Defense Today, NSWC PCD provides these Point.
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Coastal Compass - June 2016
Robert (Bob) Wells, a HubzoneHQ employee
Michael Hays, an ITA International employee
Howard Kelly, an ITA International employee
Timothy Sprouse, a Gryphon Technologies, LLC employee
NSWC PCD LCAC Depot personnel repair LCAC propeller shroud stators in support of the NAVSUP stator repair efforts and the NAVSEA shroud overhaul efforts. These shrouds and stators are “old school” riveted aluminum aerospace structures. The LCAC propeller shroud is a sort of super heavy duty round airplane wing. This type of structure was common on 1960s and 1970s aircraft. U.S. Navy Photos by Ron Newsome
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Senate Armed Service Committee is Briefed on Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus PANAMA CITY – NSWC Panama City Division Technical Program Manager for Diving and Life Support, Wes Hughson, presents the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus and other diving and life support system to Jason Potter, Senate Armed Services Committee Professional Staffer and Cmdr. Eddie Crossman from the Office of Legislative Affairs on June 2, 2016. Potter toured NSWC PCD for a full day was briefed on Mine Warfare, Diving and Life Support, Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and our work in Science and Technology. Potter came away with deeper knowledge and appreciation for Panama City Division! From left to right; Jason Potter, Cmdr. Crossman and Wes Hughson. U.S. Navy photo by Jeff Prater (RELEASED) 160602-N-EP040-004
NSWC PCD Employees Recognized at Educational Partnership Award Ceremony PANAMA CITY — The 6th annual Education Partnership Awards were held at the Long Glass Conference Center aboard Naval Support Activity Panama City Division on June 3, 2016. The ceremony honors volunteers, mentors and teachers working together to ensure military children get a quality educational experience. U.S. Navy Photo by Jacqui Barker (RELEASED) 160606-N-PY562-002
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Coastal Compass - June 2016