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Department of Navy Top Scientists, Engineers Recognized for Excellence

01 July 2025

WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of the Navy recognized the finest in Navy and Marine Corps science and engineering June 25 at the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition (ASN RD&A) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers awards ceremony. Dr. Brett A. Seidle, Acting ASN(RD&A) and Mr. Peter C. Reddy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, Test, and Engineering (DASN(RDT&E)), personally recognized top scientists and engineers from across the Department of the Navy (DON) and highlighted their incredible accomplishments.

The award is named after former ASN(RD&A), Dr. Delores M. Etter, who delivered a recorded message congratulating the award recipients. She encouraged all DON scientists and engineers to continue pursuing innovations that support America's fleet and warfighters, and to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers for DON science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) positions.

Both civilian and military scientists and engineers in the DON were eligible for these annual awards.

Recipients of the 2025 ASN(RD&A) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award are:

INDIVIDUALS

EMERGENT SCIENTISTS

  • Mr. Sean W. Suehr, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division 

Established and implemented the historic first use of a new and innovative approach for rapid development of capabilities to counter agile threats.

  • Mr. Michael P. Warnock, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport Division

Developed algorithms under the quantum paradigm, such as purely quantum, hybrid quantum/classical, and quantum-inspired algorithms that have been critical to advancements in this application area for the Navy.

EMERGENT ENGINEERS

  • Mr. Raymond G. Koehler, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)

Implemented the first autonomy framework with cross-domain swarming capabilities into NAWCAD's autonomy simulation and test infrastructure, enabling the Command's first large-scale simulation and optimization of swarm behavior with assets concurrently in air, surface, and underwater domains.

  • Mr. Mike Lee, Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific 

Led and implemented the first Sailor Capable Install. This resulted in Sailors' ability to install critical applications and updates without the need for members of the Tactical Networks Program Office and Command and Control Program Office to board the ship for "boots on the deck" installs.

  • Mr. Orlando A. Mulero-Flores, NSWC Indian Head Division 

Developed theoretically novel mechanisms in underwater explosive phenomena that demonstrate more efficient defeat of adversary targets not possible with current modes of operations.

  • Dr. David Raudales, Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)

Created revolutionary sonar technologies for use in subsea and seabed warfare with unprecedented ability to detect and classify extremely dangerous deeply buried mines and infrastructure.

  • Dr. Christopher R. So, NRL

Advanced Underwater Curing Adhesive Technologies which enables pier-side repair options for the Navy. This led to the Navy's understanding of how to develop and apply underwater adhesives that meet structural adhesive strength requirements.

INDIVIDUAL SCIENTISTS

  • Dr. Zbigniew A. Dreger, NSWC Indian Head Division 

Recorded the first fundamental materials properties and characterization data to validate theoretical predictions for a novel energetic material. This has the potential to speed the development cycle of new high-performance propellants and explosives.

  • Mr. Christian X. Szatkowski, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) 

Achieved a remarkable 80% reduction in Naval planning process times, facilitated real-time planning, and delivered advanced capabilities to the warfighter. These accomplishments have significantly enhanced Maritime Operations Center planning, in alignment with the Chief of Naval Operations' guidance to "Fight from the MOC".

  • Dr. James L. Stewart, NSWC Crane Division 

Developed the Miniaturized Expendable Signature Tethered I&Q (MESTIQ) prototype which has significantly advanced Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) capabilities, providing a non-kinetic solution for emerging challenges in the electromagnetic spectrum. This innovative technology has enhanced our warfighter's ability to operate in contested environments, supporting critical national defense objectives.

INDIVIDUAL ENGINEERS

  • Dr. Phillip H. Burnside, NSWC Crane Division 

Developed a breakthrough numerical modeling and simulation process that effectively predicts small arms weapon signatures including flash, blow-back pressure, and over-pressure. These efforts have provided the basis for all future suppressor development in the DoD and its industry partners.

  • Ms. Karen Deering, NSWC Carderock Division 

Implemented a new shallow water Underway Measurement Area (UMA) and conducted a record number of diverse special acoustic tests in 2024.

  • Mr. Ryan G. Jones, NIWC Pacific 

Significantly advanced the Navy's persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities within the most challenging environments with the design and development of advanced, underwater systems and sensor arrays.

  • Mr. Wyatt J. Nash, NSWC Carderock Division 

Addressed degaussing, deamping, shaft grounding issues, and raised awareness of underwater electromagnetic signatures.

  • Mr. Vikram S. Pandurangan, Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC)

Led a large and diverse team in the design, testing, and production of an all-new incredibly complex heavy cable handling system for the SURTASS anti-submarine warfare mission. Up to 10 new 356' long tactical auxiliary general ocean surveillance (T-AGOS) ships will be built specifically to field this NAVFAC EXWC product.

  • Mr. Matthew F. Sinfield, NSWC Carderock Division 

Played a key role in developing and implementing a specification framework for additively manufactured materials, particularly for high-strength steels, aimed at broadening U.S. manufacturing capacity and improving operational capabilities.

  • Mr. Ibrahim Suberu, NAVWAR 

Tremendously impacted Navy tactical networks across the entire spectrum of operations through increased bandwidth and capabilities of Navy networking systems.

TEAMS

The Command and Control Experimentation (C2X) Team, Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I)

Revolutionized PEO C4I's ability to deliver a cost-effective, scalable, and secure service-mesh architecture, enabling rapid deployment of critical capabilities and transforming how the Navy meets mission needs.

  • Mr. Nicholas J. Gizzi 
  • Mr. Michael Lee 
  • Mr. Clemente D. Rivetti 
  • Mr. Scott D. King 
  • Mr. Howard L. Dyckman 

The CVN In-Water Shaft Replacement Team, PEO Carriers 

Delivered the Navy a new warfighting Battle Damage Assessment and Repair capability to keep CVNs in-the-fight during conflict, exponentially improving the country's warfighting readiness posture while simultaneously reducing the community’s reliance on stressed naval shipyard dry-docking infrastructure.

  • Mr. Glen E. Harsh 
  • Mr. Jeff L. Lankford 
  • Mr. Jacob J. Nessel 
  • Mr. Scott Posey 
  • Mr. Neil Wolfe 

The Naval HF Interoperability Team, NIWC Atlantic  

Demonstrated the ability to pass Joint Range Extension Application, Appendix C (JREAP-C) tracks. The tracks were delivered between a representative Marine Corps unit ashore and a Navy destroyer, through the use of a small form factor Marine Corps Fly Away Kit (MCFAK) solution.

  • Mr. Matthew D. Meltzer 
  • Mr. Joel T. Martin 
  • Mr. Joel Abdullah 
  • Mr. Quentin Boyer 
  • Mr. William C. Cromer 

The Surface Ship Undersea Warfare In-Service Support Team, NUWC Newport Division  

Ensured the fleet’s sonar systems remained up and running in three main ways: through training and maintenance, by providing distance fleet support, and identifying and resolving software issues.

  • Mr. Jeffrey M. Kobza 
  • Mr. Steven J. Fastow 
  • Ms. Melodie R. Grasso 
  • Mr. Mason R. Machado 
  • Mr. Jesse W. Cobb 
  • Mr. Matthew C. Puterio 
  • Mr. Matthew F. Cordes 

The Tactical Systems Integration and Interoperability Team, NIWC Pacific 

Enabled mission-critical communication across contested environments and enhanced multinational defense readiness through innovative tools, resilient architectures and frameworks, and collaborative interoperability.

  • Dr. Glenn-Iain G. Steinback 
  • Mr. Jonathan A. Basney 
  • Mr. Alessandro Rosselli 
  • Mr. Timothy Kim 

The Unmanned Naval Innovation Team (UNIT), NIWC Atlantic  

Addressed key integration challenges associated with a proliferation of commercial assets within fleet operations. The team integrated numerous platforms, sensors and decision support tools into existing fleet fusion and processing capabilities enabling dramatically increased sensor metrics while limiting the need for additional watchstanders.

  • Mr. Michael J. Grass 
  • Mr. Eric C. Stephenson 
  • Mr. Nathaniel A. Ballard 
  • Mr. David A. Bate 
  • Mr. Brock J. Morgan 

TEAMS COLLABORATING ACROSS THE DON

Command Readiness Endurance and Watchstanding (CREW) Team, Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) / Commander, Naval Surface Forces (CNSF) / Office of Naval Research (ONR) / Defense Health Agency (DHA)

Addressed the identified need for a method to monitor and manage fatigue for the Navy. Culminating in 2024, the success of two major events (RIMPAC Trident Warrior and remote monitoring of 4 deployed ships) demonstrated that the CREW system is feasible and provides valuable insights to US Navy for fatigue risk decision-making.

  • Dr. Rachel R. Markwald 
  • Dr. Patrick J. Dougherty 
  • Dr. Todd R. Seech 
  • Dr. Peter N. Squire 
  • Dr. Malena B. Rone

Warfighter Dominance – Marksmanship Team, ONR / Command and General Staff College (CGSC) / NMRC

Developed foundational research and technologies, leading to the most significant positive changes of Marine Corps marksmanship in over a century.

  • Dr. Peter N. Squire
  • Dr. Adam T. Biggs
  • Dr. Rachel R. Markwald
  • Dr. Tim L. Dunn

The ASN(RD&A) serves as the DON Service Acquisition Executive and has the authority, responsibility, and accountability for all acquisition functions and programs and for enforcement of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) procedures. The Assistant Secretary establishes policies and procedures and manages the DON's Research, Development, and Acquisition activities in accordance with DoD 5000 Series Directives.

 

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