Month: September 2022

Source: United States Navy

Lt. Matt Serio was one of two Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) WTIs selected for follow-on academic coursework as part of the WTI Scholar Program while at Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC).

Serio was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California, later this year to complete a fully-funded, in-residence graduate degree program that is available to WTIs through the WTI Scholar program.

“The WTI Scholars program allows me to pursue in-residence graduate education at NPS for specific programs while executing a production tour,” said Serio. “It’s a great fit for me because it allows me to execute my production tour immediately after completing my WTI course of instruction but also allows me to finish my shore tour with a master’s degree — it’s a best-of-both-worlds opportunity.”

The WTI Scholars program began when leaders at SMWDC saw a return on investment from officers in the WTI program who already had a master’s degree or were earning their degrees through the NPS distance learning program. The pilot initial program launched with four attendees in 2020 and has continued to grow.

Serio described the opportunity as a great chance to satisfy both personal and professional goals as a WTI, which will help make him competitive among his peers and allow him to earn a Master’s of Science in Space Systems Operations.

“It will allow me the chance to earn my master’s degree, which is something I have personal interest in as well as something required in order to pursue command at sea, which I have professional interest in,” Serio explained.

Previously, any WTIs have had to forgo the opportunity to obtain graduate education due to the WTI career path constraints precluding lengthy in-residence educational tours. To combat this, NPS has stepped in and tailored certain curriculums allowing WTIs to obtain a master’s degree at an accelerated paced and get back to the fleet to fill key billets.

“I recommend any WTI who wants the ‘best of both worlds’ opportunity to complete their in-residence graduate education while completing their production tour,” said Serio. “If you are willing to PCS for a year I do not see any reason eligible candidates should not apply. Talk to your chain of command and go for it!”

There are four WTI specialties:
• Anti-Submarine Warfare / Surface Warfare
• Amphibious Warfare
• Mine Warfare
• Integrated Air and Missile Defense

To accommodate these difference subjects, NPS was able to leverage the existing curricula and capabilities it already had and cater to each WTI specialty rather than having to create something entirely new.

SWOs interested in joining the SMWDC team and becoming WTIs can send an email to SWO_WTI@navy.mil for more information. For more information about SMWDC visit www.facebook.com/SMWDC or https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/nsmwdc./

Source: United States Navy

OPIC22 is a multinational mission headed by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Regional Fisheries Surveillance Center (RFSC) to provide surveillance over the FFA partners exclusive economic zones and assist in identifying illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activity.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to operate out of Palau in support of OPIC22,” said Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Lee, officer-in-charge of the detachment. “Combat Air Crew Eleven, and a handpicked group of maintainers, were able to conduct daily flight operations assisting the RFSC in support of the larger FFA mission.”

While supporting OPIC22, the “Mad Foxes” of VP-5 conducted three Maritime Domain Awareness flights in coordination with a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 and Palau Maritime Police surface vessels.

“Thank you to the Palauan Airfield management team; they were very professional and accommodating to our flight evolutions, ensuring a smooth flight execution that supported our mission objectives,” said Chief Naval Aircrewman (Operator) Eric Newman. “We look forward to working with them again in the future.”

The ‘Mad Foxes’ of VP-5 are based out of Jacksonville, Florida, and are currently operating from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The squadron conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance, as well as theater outreach operations as part of a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The advanced capabilities of the P-8A Poseidon enable the ‘Mad Foxes’ to perform anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions.

Source: United States Navy

The Rapid Prototyping SSTM Team includes Dr. Denise Crimmins of NUWC Division Newport; Dr. Todd Holland from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Panama City Division; Greg Hays of the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic; Andrew Brough of NSWC Crane Division; Adam Parsley of NSWC Crane Division; Anthony Schmidt of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC AD); Nicole Stone of NIWC Pacific, Todd Hashbarger of the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research Development, Test and Evaluation; Lt. Zac Fisher of NAWC AD; and Christian Schumacher of NUWC Headquarters. Stephen Farmer of Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division joined the discussion remotely from China Lake in California.

The role of the SSTM is to provide senior technical leadership across the NRDE, Navy, Department of Defense, academia, and industry to expedite solutions from concept through transition and fielding of new technologies.

The group focused on eliminating stovepipes, sharing best practices, and leveraging fleet exercises to pursue rapid insertion of technology.

At the end of the forum, the team gathered their ideas for a discussion with Dr. Brett Seidle, the new Deputy Assistant Secretary of Navy Research Development Test and Evaluation (DASN RDTE), with whom the rapid prototyping directors serve. They discussed ways to better support Seidle, as he rolls out his vision for the DASN RTDE organization to build a cohesive NRDE team.

“The timing of the face-to-face forum was ideal for establishing an open dialogue with Dr. Seidle and to work collectively on a shared mission statement and course of action to leverage the SSTM rapid prototyping directors under new DASN RDTE leadership,” Crimmins said.

This working group’s understanding of mission threads and capability gaps allows them to better engage with the fleet and Navy leadership with the ultimate goal of promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration to drive transition and technology insertion. Other goals include improving warfare center collaboration, implementing collaborative processes and tools, and enhancing warfare center communication.

Integral to achieving their goals is aligning to the National Defense Strategy, Chief of Naval Operations’ Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN), the NAVPLAN Implementation Framework (NIF) and fleet priorities, future concepts, capability and mission requirements, technology gaps, and current science and technology (S&T)/research and development investments to prioritize transitions, experimentation, and future S&T investments. The working group communicates these priorities to its stakeholders in an effort to align investment strategies, eliminate duplication of effort, and facilitate successful transition of technology into the acquisition processes.

NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country, tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869. Commanded by Capt. Chad Hennings, NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Andros Island in the Bahamas, as well as test facilities at Seneca Lake and Fisher’s Island, New York, Leesburg, Florida, and Dodge Pond, Connecticut.

Join our team! NUWC Division Newport, one of the 20 largest employers in Rhode Island, employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce. We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists, and other STEM professionals, as well as talented business, finance, logistics and other support experts who wish to be at the forefront of undersea research and development. Please connect with NUWC Division Newport Recruiting at this site- https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NUWC-Newport/Career-Opportunities/ and follow us on LinkedIn @NUWC-Newport and on Facebook @NUWCNewport.

Source: United States Navy

Commander, MyNavy Career Center, Rear Adm. Stu Satterwhite spent two days at the “Quarterdeck of the Navy” visiting various training commands and discussing with leaders and command pay and personnel administrators the steps being taken to improve Sailor pay processes as part of the Chief of Naval Operations’ call to action for every Navy leader to “Get Real, Get Better.”

Satterwhite, noting the one-year anniversary of his command’s establishment, also took time to answer some hard questions directly from command triads and supporting personnel.

“We remain committed to improving Sailor pay, to getting real and getting better,” said Satterwhite. “It has been a year now since this command was stood up. We have made great progress in that time. We want to continue that positive trajectory and that is what these trips are about. There is always progress to be made in taking care of our Sailors.”

“It was good to hear what the goal of MNCC is and how they can help us,” said Lt. Thomas Still, flag secretary for commander, Naval Service Training Command. “There’s still a lot of work to be done and it was great that he was able to take some questions and recommendations.”

As part of his two-day visit, Satterwhite toured facilities and engaged with Recruit Training Command, the Navy’s only boot camp and their recruit division commanders, Sailors and recruits, while observing various phases of boot camp and speaking at a graduation.

Satterwhite was also the reviewing officer at the weekly Pass-in-Review graduation at RTC Sept. 2.

In his speech to families, the graduating Sailors, and others in attendance, Satterwhite recognized the hard work and determination put forth to get the young men and women to where they are today – ready to serve in the world’s finest Navy. Satterwhite continued by communicating to everyone MNCC’s core mission, its direct impact on all Sailors, and his priority as commander.

Earlier this year, Satterwhite made visits to fleet concentrations areas including San Diego; Pearl Harbor; Japan; Groton, Connecticut; Hampton Roads, Virginia; the National Capital Region; Italy; Rota, Spain; Bahrain, and Bremerton and Everett, Washington. These visits were to keep CPPAs and command leadership teams informed on pay issues and how the MyNavy Career Center can help.

MNCC was established as a one-star command in September 2021, and reports to Commander, Navy Personnel Command, for pay and personnel issues. Learn more about MNCC at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/MyNavy-Career-Center/

RTC is overseen by Commander, NSTC, Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture and her staff. NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, including NROTC units at more than 160 colleges and universities; Officer Training Command at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island; RTC as well as Navy Junior ROTC and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps.