Win $250,000 in Adaptable InterfaceInnovation Challenge at Dahlgren

ByJenniferErickson

Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Do you think your business company, corporation or academic institution can develop a more streamlined interface to enhanceintegrationofradarsystemsonNavy ships? If so, it may be the perfect candidate for Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division’s (NSWCDD) Adaptable Interface - Innovation Challenge at Dahlgren and the chancetowin$250,000

NSWCDD is extremely excited to host its third type of innovation challenge Over the past year innovation challenges have been embeddedinthecultureofDahlgren.Having avarietyofchallenges,focusedonavarietyof audiences,haveprovedtobeextremelybeneficial.Thefirstchallengewasaregionalhigh school robotics competition in April 2022 and again in March 2023 The second challenge was focused on colleges and universities nationwide where they competed in the ArtificialIntelligenceandMachineLearning Innovation Challenge at Dahlgren in March 2023. Finally, the late breaking opportunity, NSWCDD designed the Automated Interface - Innovation Challenge focused on businesses, companies, corporations and academicinstitutionsnationwidetodevelop an adaptable interface to support rapid integrationofsystemsonNavyships

“As a hands-on research, development, test and evaluation lab we are always working to identify innovative ways to accelerate capability development and deployment to the Fleet. In this challenge, we are looking for an adaptable radar interface that we can consider using in future Fleet operations,” saidChiefTechnologyOfficerJenniferClift

The challenge will be executed in three phases: 1) white paper, 2) solution development and demonstration, and 3) new interfacesolutiondevelopment

The objective of the white paper is for the team to demonstrate their knowledge and ability to rapidly transform interfaces in a system of systems environment and their strategy and plans to approach Phases 2 and 3. The deadline for the paper is Aug. 18 NSWCDD anticipates notifying the winners ofthisphasebySept 1.

Phases 2 and 3 will be held in-person Nov.

1-3 at the University of Mary Washington Dahlgren Campus The objective of Phase 2 istoassesstheabilitytodevelopaninterface/ adaptive layer between multiple navigation radar interfaces and a combat system inter- face Participants will present their results in a presentation on Nov. 1 and move on to Phase3. In the final phase, NSWCDD will provide participants a new interface specification foradifferentnavigationradarthatwillhave similardatatothegovernmentprovideddata on the interface in Phase 2. The division will give no more than 24 hours to develop an application that translates the data stream from the new radar as well as the previously providedradarinterfaces.NSWCDDexpects toannouncethewinnerNov.3.

“Past innovation challenges have been extremely exciting and rewarding to watch and observe all participants really test their limits,”Cliftsaid.“Ilookforwardtowhatlies ahead with the Adaptable Interface Innovation Challenge at Dahlgren. It’s going to begreat!”

NSWCDD will hold a Challenge Talk July 19 via Zoom to answer any questions The Zoom link will be posted on challenge.gov viaanupdatetotheprizechallenge

To apply and for more information, visit https://www.challenge.gov/?challenge=adaptable-interface——innovation-challenge-at-dahlgren

NAVFAC MIDLANT awards contract for roof repair/replacement at various sites onboard Naval Station Newport

FromNavalFacilitiesEngineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC MIDLANT) awarded Enfield EnterpriseLLC Springfield,Massachusetts, a $24,146,635 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantitycontractforroofingrepairand/ orreplacementatvarioussitesonboardNaval StationNewport,Newport,RhodeIsland

The maximum dollar value, including the base period and all option periods, is $24,146,635 Work will be performed in Newport, Rhode Island, and is expected to

Honorary Aviator

from Page 1 traitsthatmakethebestNavalAviators becompletebyJuly2028.

FiscalYear(FY)2023OperationandMaintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award to fulfill the minimum guarantee, and willexpireattheendofthecurrentFY Future taskorderswillbeprimarilyfundedbyO&M Nfunds Thiscontractwascompetitivelyprocured via the sam.gov website with four proposals received. NAVFAC MIDLANT is the contracting activity(N40085-23-D-0050).

NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering, public works and environmen-

“Ithasbeenareallygreatdaysofar Everybodyhasmade everythingspecial,”SaidMónicaGalloway,Julian’smother. “Itisoverwhelming anditreallyisunbelievablehowmuch supportwehavereceived.Ijustcan’tputitintowords.

Julian wrapped the day up with some simulated flight time in both the T-6B Texan II and T-44C Pegasus simulators. In the simulators, Julian got to put his new Naval Aviatorwingstothetestandtryhishandatflyingaerobatic maneuvers

“It’s awesome It’s a really great feeling to be able to give him something he’ll remember,” said Lt Nate Shepherd, instructorpilot.

Julian’s family has received incredible support from the localcommunityandhascoinedtheslogan,“JulianStrong.”

ThoseinVT-31whohadtheprivilegeofmeetingJulianand his family will be cheering on Team Julian as he continues histreatmentatDriscoll.

VT-31 and VT-35 are two of the Navy’s premier joint multi-engine training squadrons and is responsible for the advanced training of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard maritime/turboprop aircraft communities Additionally the command trains Foreign Military students fromItaly theNetherlands,France Norway Denmark and Sweden Students go on to fly platforms such as the P-8A “Poseidon, C-130J“SuperHercules,”E-6B“Mercury,”and E-2D “Hawkeye.”

NNSY Employees

from Page 1 hope to bring back a positive experience to shareandpossiblyinfluencethenextperson toapplyforNEXTGEN.AndasIcontinuemy journey, I would like to pursue other leadership programs and continue diversifying my professionalportfolio.Seewhereitleadsme.”

Whenaskedwhatadvicehecouldprovide his fellow shipyarders, he said, “I would advise my fellow shipyarders to take advantage of every opportunity the shipyard offers. The shipyard is going to utilize you to completetheirmission,soutilizetheshipyard to develop yourself to complete the mission, whatever internal mission you have Even if youhavenointerestinbeingasupervisor,the development programs offered by tNNSY have helped me with my daily interactions whether it be my personal relationships, professional relationships, or communicatingbetterwithmyteenageson.”

Leon closed with a familiar quote from

Theodore Roosevelt encapsulating his journeyandhis efforts toexpandhisknowledge.

“Theonlymanwhonevermakesamistakeis

*** ContractSpecialistBrittanyTavassolifirst learned about the NEXTGEN program in an all hands to the workforce, which shared details on leadership opportunities offered byNAVSEA

While the subject line sparked my interests, I researched the program a bit further andattendedtheinformationalsessions, said Tavassoli “I discovered that the NEXTGEN program aligns directly with the NAVSEA mission I support in my day-to-day operationsatNNSY Instillingthemoralsandethics of the NAVSEA organization is important whileempoweringemployeestosupportthe mission. This program captured my attentionthroughitsinitiativetoretainentry-level employeesthroughleadershipdevelopment toincludementoring,training,andinfluencingindividualsacrosstheorganization.”

Since orientation in October 2022, Tavas- tal 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 organization to ensure the region’s facilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently andeffectively ForadditionalinformationaboutNAVFAC MIDLANTonsocialmedia,followouractivities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ navfacmidatlantic and on Instagram @ navfacmidatlantic.

Q: Whattypesoffamily housingareavailable?

A: There are three types of housing available to families:

Public/PrivateVenture(PPV)

Housing is also referred to as privatized housing in the Navy

The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible forthe construction, renovation,maintenance and day-to-day management ofthe housing PPVhousing may be located on oroffgovernment property and in most cases will be formermilitary housing

GovernmentOwned (also known as Military Housing orNavy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing While only available in limited quantities CONUS,Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS. CommunityHousing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPVor government operated This is housing outside ofthe base that is privately owned and operated NAVY HOUSING Norfolk: 757.445.2832

JEBLCFS: 757.462.2792

Oceana/DamNeck: 757.433.3268 Yorktown: 757.847.7806

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost.

FUNCTIONSAND/OR SERVICESFFSCPROVIDES:

ClinicalCounseling – Individual, Couplesand ChildCounseling

Personal Financial Management

Information & Referral

Family EmploymentAssistance

TransitionAssistance

FamilyAdvocacy Program

Deployment and Mobilization Support

Ombudsman Support

RelocationAssistance

Parenting Programs

Stress andAngerManagement

Command Support

Crisis Support

Suicide Prevention

SAPR Support solinotedshehasalreadygainedanextended network of like-minded people across the enterprise,eachindividualempoweringone another in their personal and professional journeys “I look forward to suggesting and implementingadditionalavenuestosupport developing employees as subject matter experts in their current and future roles,” she said. “Once the program is complete I look forward to mentoring my peers and empowering them to step forward and lead from their current position while striving to impactchangeandreachtheirgoals.”

Tavassoli hopes that others are inspired to join this and other leadership programs as she was. “My advice is to step out of your comfort zone and apply! This is a wonderfulopportunitytoadvocateforyourpersonal development and future,” Tavassoli said. “If you’re on the fence about applying for these programs interestedindividualsarewelcome tocontactmeandIcansharemyexperiences withthem.We’repartofONETEAMandI’m happy to help others wherever I can, just as othershavedoneformeandmycareer.”

Twelve more Master Chiefs and Senior Chiefs prepare to facilitate Enlisted Leader Development

ByJamesStockman

Naval Education and Training Command

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT Fla. A

Naval Leadership and Ethics Command (NLEC) Dam Neck mobile training team

(MTT) completed a Chief Petty Officer-Command Navy Leader Development Facilitator Certification Course at Naval StationMayport,Florida,July14

Master-NavyLeaderDevelopmentFacilitators Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Enrique Castro and Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Matthew Noto from NLEC Dam Neck, certified 12 master chief and senior chief petty officers to facilitate the Chief Petty Officer Leader Development Course (CPOLDC)attheirrespectiveunits

“Duringthisclass,wetaughtmasterchiefs andseniorchiefswhowerealreadyqualified commandNavyleaderdevelopmentfacilitatorsthematerialfortheCPOLDC including responsibility authority and accountability; ethics foundation; leadership philosophies; and much more, said Castro. “This will enable these fleet facilitators to lead CPOLDCclassesfortheirSailors.”

NLEC Dam Neck and NLEC San Diego offer local Enlisted Leader Development (ELD)courses40weeksperyear;however, theyonlyconductMTTsforELDtrain-thetrainerevents.OtherELDcoursesarefacilitatedbyNLEC-certifiedfacilitators

“Mobiletrainingteamswere,andstillare, the most efficient and effective way to get fleet facilitators qualified throughout the United States and overseas,” said Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Robert Bergmann, enlisted leader development lead (East Coast), NLEC Dam Neck. “NLEC only has two locations Dam Neck and San Diego so the only way we can spread the word and qualify fleet facilitators is to go to them andtrainthem WithoutMTTs,commands would have to send their senior enlisted leaders to us to get certified. It is more cost effectiveforNLECtosendtwomasterfacilitatorstoa locationthanitisforcommands tosend12chiefstoVirginiaorCalifornia.”

An MTT consists of two NLEC master facilitatorswhotraveltorequestedlocations to teach courses to potential fleet facilitators.AccordingtoBergmann,MTTvisitsare NLEC’s most important function to getting theNavytrainedandready

“MTTshavetwojobswhentheygoouton theroad teachseniorenlistedleadersthe coursematerialandteachthemhowtofacilitate the courses,” said Bergmann. “Beyond being taught thematerial the mostimportant task is teaching future fleet facilitators howtodeliverthetopics,Socraticquestioning and the art of facilitation These are not PowerPointclasses;thesearegroupdiscussions that are driven by the class and led by thefacilitators.”

NLEC and MTTs play an integral role in the Navy Enlisted Leader Development Continuum which provides development opportunities at regular intervals throughout a Sailor’s career supporting leadership growthandreflection.

“This course provided me with additional ways of understanding my own leadership style and how to become a better overall leader,” said Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Michael Kirkpatrick, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike(HSM) Squadron40 atNavalStation Mayport “I am also happy that the Navy is focusingonprovidingleadershiptrainingat alllevelsoftheenlistedranks.”

NLEC is responsible for facilitating ELD courses to 25% of the fleet. NLEC also has the sole responsibility to certify fleet facilitatorstobeabletofacilitateELDcoursesto theother75%.

“One of the most difficult things for an operational command to do is find the time and resources to send groups of people on travel for training,” said Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Joyce Silkworth-Mallory,assignedtoHSMSquadron 50 at Naval Station Mayport. “Having a mobiletrainingteamavailabletofulfillthese requirements takes a load off of essential training.”

NLEC Dam Neck, located at Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex, Virginia, is a subordinate command of the Naval LeadershipandEthicsCenter,andprovides trainingandeducationforofficersnotyetin command and courses designed as part of theELDframework.

To learn more about ELD, courses and enrollment and to request an MTT visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/ELD/

For additional information on NLEC DamNeck,visithttps://www.netc.navy.mil/ NLECDamNeck/.