Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division’s Denzel Bridges named Black Engineer of the Year

ByPatrickMaio Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division

Denzel Bridges, a Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) combat systems reliability engineer, won a Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) as a Modern-Day Technology Leader for his leadership and technical and analytical skills during the COVID-19 pandemic Bridgesis“rapidlydevelopingintoacapable leader in everything he touches,” wrote Jing Li-Kole a branch manager who nominatedBridgesfortheBEYAaward.

The awards were presented at the 37th BEYA STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Conference Feb. 9-11 at a waterfront convention center south of Washington,D.C.

The BEYA Modern-Day Technology Leader awards are presented on behalf of US Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine, published by Career CommunicationsGroupInc.,andtheCouncil of Engineering Deans of the Historically BlackCollegesandUniversities

The awards recognize primarily Black menandwomenwhodemonstrateoutstandingperformanceinSTEM-relatedfieldsand serve as inspirations for future engineers, scientistsandinnovators.

Engineering inspiration

Bridges, a mechanical engineer in the Combat Systems, Test and Evaluation Department(CDept.),grewupinRiverside, California,wherehisfatherworkedinsecuritywithshipping giantFedExCorp. while his mother worked with a social services agencywithRiversideCounty “I’ve always known I wanted to study engineeringsincemyfreshmanyearofhigh school when I was inspired by my cousin,” saidBridges,whoearnedabachelor’sdegree in materials science and engineering from CornellUniversityinIthaca,NewYork,and amaster’sdegreeanddoctorateinmechanicalengineeringfromUniversityofTennesseeinKnoxville

“I initially thought I wanted to study chemical engineering because I thought I wantedtopursueacareerrelatedtorenewable energy,” Bridges said “When I looked atthecourserequirementswithfoursemestersofchemistryandtwosemestersofphysicsinthefirsttwoyearsofschool,Idecided togoadifferentdirection.”

WithhisadvanceddegreeinhandbyJuly 2019 Bridges thought he’d end up with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, about 25 miles to the

westoftheUniversityofTennessee

“From a fatigue standpoint, I definitely wanted to get out of the academic setting,” said Bridges, after helping pen more than 30 scholarly articles with colleagues on subjects ranging from advanced engineering materials and manufacturing to alloys andcompounds.

The article he said he’s most proud of is titled“Wettability,DiffusionBehaviorsand ModelingofNiNanoparticlesandNanowires in Brazing Inconel 718,” published in 2021 after he graduated with a doctorate in hand.

“I see it eventually as a viable substitute for some structural applications, or high-temperature assemblies such as for aerospace or turbines,” said Bridges, who feels comfortable speaking about the article’s explanation for the differences between soldering and brazing and using copper nickel or silver nanomaterials to join materials

Thetopicsoutlinedinthepaperfocuson using nickel nanomaterials to join nickel superalloys and mathematically modeling their behavior

About six months before Bridges graduated from the University of Tennessee, the engineer’s aunt with the DOE suggested thatheattendtheBEYASTEMConference in Washington, D.C. That’s where Bridges, who took his aunt’s advice, met Michael Gibbons, formerly an NSWC PHD branch manager who now works for the Program Executive Office Ships’ (PEO Ships) Boats andCombatantCraftprogramoffice(PMS 300) in Washington, D.C. Bridges passed up recruitment tables for Raytheon Technologies Corp., Boeing Co and other military contractors He was so impressed with Gibbons’ pitch about NSWC PHD that he packed his bags and movedbacktoCaliforniaaheadofhisfiancée whowasfinishinghermaster’sdegree in the public health field at the University ofGeorgiatobeginworkatNSWCPHDon

Aug. 12, 2019

He and his fiancée were married fourand-a-half months later

NSWC PHD involvement

Today,Bridgesperformsreliabilityanalysesforvariouscombatsystems

“It’satremendoushonortobenominated for this award and win, especially since it is forthesameconferencethatIwasrecruited atfouryearsago,”Bridgessaid.

Bridgeshasalsoservedastheactingteam leadsinceJune2022forthecombatsystems reliability engineering team. He has leveraged his academic research experience with nanomaterials and welding, soldering and brazing materials to participate in the command’s Naval Innovative Science and Engineering(NISE)program.

NISE provides funding to help NSWC PHD employees research a project idea, come up with a new engineering concept, orupdatetheirlaboratoryequipment.

Bridges also has helped mentor student interns for summer and fall programs with the Office of Naval Research’s 10-week summerNavalResearchEnterpriseInternshipProgram,alsoknownasNREIP.

NREIP connects the command with collegesanduniversities

Bridgesalsofrequentlyvolunteerstofacilitate command-wide organized talks that discussawiderangeoftopicsinarespectful and judgment-free environment Topics he hasfacilitatedincludeobservanceofMartin Luther King Jr Day; Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation ofenslavedAfricanAmericans;andphysical andmentalhealth.

“He has been able to quickly learn and adapttomanytechnicalandorganizational challengesusinghiseffectiveproblem-solvingskillsandalwayswithahighworkethic andprofessionaldemeanor,”saidLi-Kole,a departmentmanager.

“He is very knowledgeable, he has a doctorate, yet he’s very humble,” Li-Kole added “He is always willing to learn and put himself in an area where he may not be comfortable like leading and guiding the summerinterns.That’snothiscomfortzone, buthestillvolunteers.”

Tyrone Taborn, the founder publisher chairman and CEO of Career Communications Group, which sponsors the BEYA awards,saidatleasthalfadozenotherNSWC PHDemployeeshavereceivedBEYAssince 2020, and that the command is on his organization’sradarasanengineerhub

“This is a big deal,” Taborn said. “The awardisavalidationofhishardwork.It’snot about race It’s not because you are a male. If you get this award, you have competed againstsomeofthetoppeopleinournation.

NSWCPD’s Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program Fall Engagement Program participants provide virtual presentations

ByGaryEll Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division

TheNavalSurfaceWarfareCenter PhiladelphiaDivision(NSWCPD)hostedaseries of virtual presentations from the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) Fall Engagement Program (NFE) onDec 15,2022.

The 50+ virtual participants observed four intriguing student presentations with research ranging from the evaluation of electrochemical catalysts for submarine applications, energy storage research, diagnostics for ship service diesel generator engines high energy thermal management systemdesign/thermalenergystorageand SeaGlideprogramdevelopment.

The NFE program offered students who applied for the NREIP but did not intern over summer 2022 at a Department of the Navy laboratory, an opportunity to participate in the program during the fall under thementorshipofNSWCPDengineersand scientists The program enabled participation from academically talented college students, graduating seniors, and graduate students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers the chance to learn about naval researchandtechnology

The NFE program gives students an opportunity to do a short-term duration project similar to a class project in an area of research that aligns with NSWCPD’s mission. “Successful projects really depend on a combination of mentor and student engagement. The most successful projects havementorslayingoutabaseoffundamentalknowledgewheremotivatedstudentscan effectively organize and work as a team to builduponthatbaseandproducesomething special, said NSWCPD STEM Outreach ProgramManagerTristanWolfe.

“Thisyear’sprogramincluded23students from 21 different universities from across the country from 11 different science and engineering majors The projects that the students complete are often multi-disciplinary, pushing students to really learn and adopt concepts in systems engineeringthattheymaynottypicallydiveintoina school setting Systems engineering is such a fundamentally important concept to the workwedoatNSWCPDanditissomething most engineers have to learn on-the-job Theopportunityforstudentstolearnthose conceptsinpracticeearlycanbevaluableto futurecareergrowth,”saidWolfe

The NREIP Fall Engagement students workedonteamssuchasthe:

„ Increased Thermal Loads & Thermal Energy Storage Introduction Impacts on MachineryControlSystemsTeam

„ Diagnostics for Ship Service Diesel Generator(SSDG)/MainPropulsionDiesel Engine(MPDE)Team

„ Evaluation of Electrochemical Catalysts (Electro-catalysts) for Submarine ApplicationsTeam

„ SeaGlideProgramDevelopmentTeam.

From a timeline perspective though students only spent 40 hours engaged in research activities, they received mentorships from many NSWCPD departments and divisions The presentations represented a detailed analysis of their respectivesubjects

“Because the program participants are so geographically spread out and from so many different schools the program has to manage to engage students across multiple time zones and manage some very differ- ent school schedules Relying on asynchronous engagement, recordings, and digital tools becomes important in this program; thisreallymimicswhatitcanbeliketowork in the world today,” said Wolfe adding “It is challenging and I think we’re probably buildingskillsbeyondthetechnicalscience and engineering concepts I think the program is inadvertently building up “digital soft skills” for both our mentors and our interns.Conceptslikecommunication,problem solving, and collaboration in a digital environmentbecomeacentralfocalpointof thisprogrambecauseofthestructure.These areskillsthatwehavetobuildupasasociety if we’re going to be effective in a post-pandemicworld.

“ParticipatingintheFallNREIPEngagement program was a very satisfying learning experience that I am grateful to have had,”saidAngelMartinez-aSenioratNew YorkUniversitymajoringinMechanicaland Aerospace Engineering “In onesemester I was able to learn in depth concepts about the functionality and mechanics of a diesel engine, and was able to gain great experience in Matlab and Simulink, which I have hadverylittleexperiencewithbeforehand. Workingwithandgettingtoknowmyfellow teammateswasalsoagreatexperience.”

MartinezpreviouslyinternedatRaytheon TechnologiesattheJurisdictionandClassificationAssessment(JCA)CenterofExcellence (COE) as a Mechanical Engineering Internfortwosummersbeforeparticipating in the NFE program. Here, his experience enabled him to gain technical knowledge and prepared him for the concepts he would be learning about and modeling in theNREIPprogram.

“I feel that those two summers of interning along with my experience with the NREIP have fully opened the opportunity for me to have an exciting career in the defense industry I am hopeful to keep pursuing knowledge and growth in this excitingindustry,”Martinezsaid.

MartinezparticipatedontheDiagnostics for Ship Service Diesel Generator (SSDG)/ Main Propulsion Diesel Engine (MPDE) Team,mentoredbyNSWCPD’sJohnRipple “In the fall engagement alone I learned about the mechanics and fundamentals of the different working systems in a diesel engine I specifically focused on the piston and crankshaft subsystem, learning about how total engine work output varies with changinginputparameters,”Martinezsaid

“The NREIP Fall Engagement Program isanamazingopportunityforthoselooking toexploreacareerwiththeNSWCPD Iwas abletolearnmoreabouttheworkdonehere, and how technical knowledge really develops with the help of your teammates and mentors I am confident that the connectionsImadeduringmytimeherewillprove to be fruitful for the future, as I really got to work with and develop friendships with the people on my team I feel it’s a valuable experience for anyone chosen to participate,”Martinezsaid.

Brian Molina-Diaz is a senior Chemical Engineering student at the University of PuertoRicoMayaguez.Molina-DiazparticipatedontheEvaluationofElectrochemical Catalysts(Electro-catalysts)forSubmarine Applications Team. He said, “Being able to workwithaninterdisciplinaryteamwaskey for my professional and academic development. During the program, I learned about theElectrochemicalPromotionofCatalysts (EPOC), a possible method for improving catalyst performance to remove airborne

Naval

Program (NFE) student Brian Molina-Diaz a seniorChemical Engineering student at the Universityof Puerto Rico Mayaguezdesigned a schematic detailing the Electrochemical Promotion of Catalysts (EPOC),a possible method forimproving catalyst performance to remove airborne contaminants in submarines.Students presented theirNREIPfinal projects at the Naval SurfaceWarfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) in earlyDecember2022 (COURTESY OFBRIANMOLINA-DIAZ)

Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) Fall Engagement Program (NFE) student Angel Martinez- a Seniorat NewYorkUniversitymajoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering participated on the Diagnostics forShip Service Diesel Generator (SSDG)/Main Propulsion Diesel Engine (MPDE)Team.He designed a model ofa diesel engine, specificallyfocused on the piston and crankshaft subsystem,learning about howtotal engineworkoutputvarieswith changing input parameters Students presented theirNREIP final projects at the Naval SurfaceWarfare Center,Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) in early December2022 (COURTESYOFANGELMARTINEZ) contaminantsinsubmarines

“My professional goal is to apply chemical engineering fundamentals (transport phenomena) in opportunities related to National Security This program put me a stepforwardtowardmygoal;italsoallowed me to work with Navy faculty and students aroundthecountry,saidMolina-Diaz.”

Encouraging other students to consider the program, he said, “The NREIP Fall Engagement is a well-distributed program, which makes it suitable to be completed during the semester I encourage students from underrepresented communities like me to apply for this opportunity and get exposed to the cutting-edge technology of theDepartmentofDefense(DoD).”

NREIP is a competitive program with over 800 placements in 47 laboratories around the country in which many participants go on to careers within DoD Interns are selected based upon academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations,andcareerandresearchinterests

“As always, the quality of some of these projects was fantastic and I always walk away from these final presentations having learnedalot,”Wolfesaid.

Formoreinformationabouttheseprojects or mentorships, contact tristan.m.wolfe2. civ@us.navy.mil

NSWCPD employs approximately 2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The NSWCPD team does the research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear machinery, ship machinery systems, and related equipment and materialforNavysurfaceshipsandsubmarines NSWCPDisalsotheleadorganization providingcybersecurityforallshipsystems.

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division’s African American Employee Resource Group (AAERG) hosts “Black History Month Jeopardy!” event

ByJosephFontanazza

Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division

In honor of Black History Month, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division’sAfricanAmericanEmployeeResource Group (AAERG) hosted “Black History Month Jeopardy!” for NSWCPD personnel onFeb8,2023

“We know about the traditional famous figures whom everyone is taught about in school, but do we explore beyond the information we are presented? I’m looking forward to this event because it gives meachancetolearnsomethingnewtoday, NSWCPD Special Emphasis Program ManagerEdwinRosasaidashehelpedkick offthegame

Theeventconsistedofaslightlyadjusted version of the standard Jeopardy! game show format that has existed since its television debut in 1964. This take entailed two teamsofNSWCPDpersonnelansweringone round of trivia questions on African American history ranging from 100 to 500 points in five different categories such as “Black History Month Sports” and “Black Inventors.”

Some of the featured questions asked were, “This book and movie profiled four women whose work as mathematicians played an important role in the U.S. space program, and“In1997 hewasthefirstAfricanAmericanprofessionalgolfertowinthe Masters Golf Tournament,” with “What is Hidden Figures?” and “Who is Tiger Woods?”beingtheanswersrespectively

“I started working at NSWCPD in 2016 andIwasontheboardoftheAAERGpretty muchsinceIwasbroughton,somyinvolvement with the AAERG was well documented. So I was approached, and they said ‘hey we love your energy and everything, would you mind doing the Jeopardy! event?’ ” NSWCPD Mechanical Engineer and the host for the Black History Month Jeopardyevent,JabrilMuhammadsaid.

Muhammad added, “I didn’t mind so I said,‘letmegetinmyAlexTrebekmindset’ andIreallyenjoyedit.”

Muhammad’s energetic personality shined in the game show host role, and he made sure the event continued running smoothlyasitwaswellreceivedbyboththe

Resource

(AAERG)“Black

(U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYSGT.JERMAINESULLIVAN/ enthusiastic participants and the engaged audience. Whispers of audience members playing along could be heard with every questionthroughoutthecrowd

“We wanted a kick-off event for Black History Month that would be exciting and fun for the NAVSEA community to get involved with. We thought this would be an interactive event that everyone would participate in, whether you were sitting on a team or if you were silently participating anyonecouldparticipate So,that’showthis Jeopardy!eventcameintomind,”NSWCPD ChemistJasmineRichardsonsaid.

She continued, “It [the event] turned out waybetterthanweimagined Wehadgreat participation and energy in the room, and a lot of support joining in on [Microsoft] teams I’m glad that everyone enjoyed the event and enjoyed the questions that were posed.

NSWCPD Technical Director Nigel C. Thijscontinuedthesenseofinformativefun intheevent’sclosingremarkswhileadvancing the discussion on looking deeper into African Americans’ contributions to buildingAmerica

“That was a lot of fun. It was great to see the teams come out to have some nice, healthy competition, and to learn a lot of factsaboutAfricanAmericanswhocontributedtoourcountry’ssuccess…Thosestories arenotalwaystold,soitwasimportanttosee andberefreshedofsomeofthenameshere… It’s really important to review our history and realize that Americans from all backgroundshelpedbuildthisCountryintowhat itistoday,”Thijssaid.

Highlightsfromthe“BlackHistoryMonth Jeopardy!”eventcanbefoundatthefollowing link https://www.instagram.com/reel/ CofoPOYgM9W/.

NSWCPDemploysapproximately2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The NSWCPD team does the research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear machinery, ship machinery systems and related equipment and material for Navy surface ships and submarines NSWCPD is also the lead organization providing cybersecurity for all ship systems