Adm. Bill Moran, Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), visited Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic Nov. 9 to see the center's capabilities and meet its workforce.

After several morning briefs, including an overview by SSC Atlantic Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Heller and Executive Director Chris Miller, Moran held an all hands call for the entire SSC Atlantic team. The admiral began by noting that when he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1981, the Navy had a goal of 600 ships, and neared that goal with 594 ships, with roughly 95 of them forward deployed all around the world. Today's Navy has 276 ships and still has roughly 95 of them deployed all around the world.

"Today, we have the ability to know where the adversaries are, what they are thinking and what they are preparing to do," Moran said. "Our ability to do that is wrapped up in what you are doing here at SSC Atlantic with information systems that let us observe areas of concern, orient ourselves to fight, provide information to strike groups and make decisions rapidly so we can act before the adversary."

"The secret sauce is not the ships, it's the people who deliver these capabilities efficiently and effectively," said Moran. "What you are doing to design, develop, deliver and sustain the Information Warfare solutions helps us get the right weapons systems to the right place at the right time," he added. "It's like the blood running through the arteries of our Navy."

"What you do is incredibly important," the admiral told hundreds of employees assembled in the SSC Atlantic conference center and more watching via VTC. "Technology is moving so fast in ISR, networks and cyber. You are now required to move faster than ever. You are innovating and thinking at a fast pace and partnering with the right people in the commercial sector to deliver the capabilities we need," Moran added.

"I want it faster!" is the refrain from warfighters that is being heard at all levels of the Department of Defense, and the Navy is leading across the joint community in speed to capability, the admiral said.

"You are essential to that mission, and I'm proud of what you are doing here," he said. "There is no better service than service to one's country."

Following the all hands call, Moran toured the Common Submarine Radio Room (CSRR) where SSC Atlantic teams procure, design and test communications systems that are common across all submarine classes and enhance submarine platform mission effectiveness while reducing acquisition and life-cycle costs. The admiral then saw the Multipurpose Reconfigurable Training System, a PC-based, network controlled system with single-touch and multi-touch liquid crystal displays that simulate the exact equipment submariners use onboard the boat. It was developed at SSC Atlantic to train Sailors to use CSRR components.

Accompanying the admiral during the Charleston visit were Rear Adm. Christian 'Boris' Becker SPAWARSYSCOM commander, Rear Adm. Carl P. Chebi Control program executive officer for Command, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I), and Space Systems, and John Pope, executive director, PEO C4I and a former commanding officer of SSC Atlantic.

During morning briefs the VCNO learned about SSC Atlantic's human capital strategy and Technical Growth Areas that support current and future fleet capabilities. In addition, Becker and Chebi briefed Moran on the SPAWAR Strategic Vision.

During a working lunch, Moran learned about several successful SSC Atlantic programs that address the Chief of Naval Operations goals, including model-based systems engineering, REDHAWK and Cryptologic Carry On Capability.

SSC Atlantic provides systems engineering and acquisition to deliver Information Warfare capabilities to the Naval, Joint and National Warfighter through the acquisition, development, integration, production, test, deployment, and sustainment of interoperable Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (C4ISR), Cyber and Information Technology (IT) capabilities. For more information visit http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/Atlantic.


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