NSWC Dahlgren Division Peer Recognition Awards

Seven employees of the Warfare Systems Department for the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) were recently honored with Peer Recognition Awards for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.

The lead human systems integration (HSI) engineer for the Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Program, Dr. David Keller (W62), was named as Employee of the Quarter.

Dr. Keller has continuously worked to improve the safety and performance of U.S. warfighters, and is recognized throughout the Joint Program Office as the subject matter expert for HSI rollover mitigation efforts and for human factors affecting vehicle capability and design.

During this past quarter, Dr. Keller positively impacted the design and evaluation of many areas, including the Rollover Detection and Warning System, Gunner's Protection Package, and Gunner's Ammunition Storage. After he completed and submitted his HSI evaluation preliminary findings, the MRAP Joint Principle for Safety initiated an immediate on-site evaluation of MRAP vehicle emergency egress windows.

Dr. Keller also mentors colleagues, enabling MRAP initiatives to advance without overcomplicating the design or incurring delays. His tireless efforts have greatly improved the safety, survivability and quality of life for soldiers and Marine gunners.

Dedication and Perseverance

Three W Department employees were recognized for dedication and perseverance.

Evan Coleman (W42) has been working with the W40 Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) team for only a few months, but has already proven himself an asset to the team and to NSWCDD. He quickly attained the skills to operate the Mission Planner submode and was engaged in the BMD 4.0.1 analysis efforts that helped ensure all issues observed during testing were promptly and accurately resolved.

During a recent BMD 4.0.1 certification testing effort, several emergent test events required personnel to travel on weekends and holidays with very short notice. Coleman volunteered and successfully completed these critical test events. His dedication gives the BMD team the flexibility to cover more test events and be even more responsive to the customer.

In addition, Coleman played a major role in working with the W40 new hire group on the junior engineer documentation initiative. His efforts are commendable and he is an example of how quickly a new employee can become a productive and valued member of an NSWCDD high-performance team.

The second awardee, Nina Davis (W51), has proven herself to be resilient while becoming a proficient and essential member of the Advanced Configuration Control and Engineering Status System (ACCESS) software development team, serving as the team's financial manager.

She committed herself to the best interests of the command as she responded to Information Management System (IMS) organization changes, to the standup of Enterprise Resource Planning, the initialization of the IMS contract re-compete, and the reformation and submission of Task Planning Sheets under urgent deadlines.

Davis took ownership of these four tasks and followed each one through to completion. She conveyed the necessary information and required responsibilities with clear and precise vision. Her dedication, resourcefulness, attention to detail and thoroughness enabled the team to meet strict deadlines. Davis' determination to do a thorough job enabled her to efficiently juggle and complete each of these tasks while performing her Common Access Library duties.

Teresa Chambers (W11), who serves as the Dual Band Radar (DBR) program's lead cost analyst, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the program. She provided technical leadership in the development and execution of tasks involving PCU Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), and PCU Zumwalt (DDG 1000)-class ships.

Chambers was instrumental in the cost evaluation of technical assessments for land-based testing, Battle Force Tactical Training, Cooperative Engagement Capability interface, Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, DBR test and evaluation, and CVN 78 high-power evaluations.

One standout accomplishment was meeting a tough deadline to analyze and prepare DBR government-furnished equipment 7300 documentation for CVN 79. Lawrence Terry, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems 2.0, singled out Chambers and remarked, "Great job on pulling this high-quality document together!" Chambers provided multiple briefs to the sponsor and ensured accuracy and understanding among stakeholders.

Employee Development

Two W Department employees were recognized with Employee Development awards.

Richard P. Thompson (W62) is a highly skilled human factors engineer who is always willing to lend a helping hand. Prior to serving with NSWCDD, Thompson worked as a contracted engineer designing vehicles for the U.S. Army. He greatly leverages this experience in applying solutions for the U.S. Marine Corps.

While balancing a full workload as the lead human factors subject-matter expert for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Program's Cougar vehicle, Thompson continues to mentor his colleagues and readily provides valuable human factors engineering support and advice.

Recently, when one of his colleagues was assigned an unfamiliar task with a very short turnaround time, Thompson quickly stepped up to provide instruction and guidance even though it was outside his primary work duties.

Also recognized was Mark Varney (W42), an outstanding mentor who willingly takes the time to bestow his knowledge to others, meeting a critical need in employee development. Varney has extensive knowledge of all areas of the Aegis Weapon System and its employment in the Fleet.

His ability to convey technically complex knowledge while making the process enjoyable and easy to understand is a quality very few people possess.

Varney has been an invaluable mentor to a number of newly hired employees during the past 10 months. The information he has provided to each employee has, in turn, allowed them to share and to pass this knowledge on to other new employees in the branch.

Technical Excellence

Christine ("Chris") Branham (W11) received the department's Technical Excellence Award.

Branham has made outstanding contributions to the Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) Program as its lead radar cost analyst for over three years. During this last quarter, she organized, reconciled and defended the G/ATOR service cost position whereby an updated acquisition program baseline will be established. She was instrumental in numerous stakeholder meetings with the Naval Center for Cost Analysis (NCCA) and various Department of Defense representatives to reconcile the G/ATOR Program Office and NCCA independent cost estimates.

Branham led the development of a cost model containing over 4,000 lines of code using the Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tool environment to provide life cycle cost estimation for multiple acquisition phases. During the week-long NCCA reconciliation meetings, she presented and successfully defended the program office's cost methodologies and justifications for differences in the estimates.