NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE, Calif. - The Honorable Sean Stackley was the latest of several senior Defense Department leaders to visit Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division to see firsthand the in-house expertise and resources available at the Navy’s premiere research lab for weapons.
“NAWCWD is clearly a warfare center that hasn’t lost touch with the warfighter,” said Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, who toured NAWCWD on Aug. 11. His visit followed closely behind that of the Honorable Frank Kendall, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, who continues to speak highly of the workforce and the significant capabilities he witnessed during his visit in May.
NAWCWD’s military and civilian workforce filled Stackley’s daylong visit to China Lake with demonstrations and discussions about several work focus areas including electronic warfare systems, target and threat simulation, and unmanned systems. Stackley then went on a walking tour of NAWCWD’s Advanced Weapons Lab where he saw firsthand how the integrated approach to development, integration, and test (operational test and developmental test) of software, systems and weapons for the F-18 aircraft, maintained during the last 35 years, has provided the fleet with significant capability improvements affordably and effectively. He also heard how the Navy can leverage this experience to help support the Joint Strike Fighter in the future.
“Mr. Stackley learned firsthand what we at WD know to be true; we have an extremely talented, experienced and dedicated workforce that is focused on the mission of supporting our Sailors and Marines,” said Rear Adm. Mike Moran, NAWCWD commander. “He was exceptionally impressed with our workforce’s innovative spirit that is alive and well – clearly setting the standard for what he believes the Navy’s warfare centers should be.”
Other discussions focused on the technical advances made by NAWCWD weapons developments including Spike missile, synthetic guidance, the digital precision strike suite, and weapons propulsion opportunities for the government to assume more of a leadership role going forward. He also saw the unique resources that are already in place and ready to support a variety of work important to the Navy during an overview of the NAWCWD land range at China Lake.
“Mr. Stackley was able to engage directly with the WD workforce,” said Scott O’Neil, NAWCWD executive director. “He was very impressed by the enthusiasm, commitment to the warfighter, and the technical competency of our employees. Rear Admiral Moran and I get to see Mr. Stackley a lot so we just stepped back and gave our workforce the opportunity to shine and they did.”
More than 300 people from the NAWCWD workforce joined Stackley for an all-hands session held at McLean Lab.
“The Department of the Navy has a lot of warfare centers and places that call themselves labs,” Stackley said. “We have very few crown jewels; NAWCWD clearly is one. What you all do is very special and unique.”
Stackley talked about today’s challenges and future uncertainties including reduced budgets, and evolving and increasing threats. He admitted to not knowing how it’s all going to unfold, but encouraged the NAWCWD workforce to stay focused.
“You all come to work because there’s meaningful, important and challenging work here,” Stackley said. “At the end of the day, you know you are doing something that makes a difference.”
Stackley described his day at China Lake like walking around in a candy store.
“I saw a lot leading edge work, and outside-the-box thinking,” he said. “We need more of that.”
Stackley highlighted the need for program offices to better understand what the warfare centers and labs have to offer. He said their first stop when looking for work should be inside the Navy warfare centers.
“You all are extremely competitive technically and financially,” he said. “What you offer is 100 percent absolute dedication to the mission. There is no ambiguity in terms of what makes you come to work every day; it is because you care about our Sailors and our Marines. Keep doing what you are doing.”
For more Naval Air Systems Command news go to: www.navair.navy.mil .