DVIDS – News – The Business of Problem Solving: Maritime Challenges, S&T Panel Opportunities

According to Dr. Michael Pollock, when potential performers seek support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), they must not only work towards addressing current problems – but also have an eye towards the future.

“ONR is in the business of solving problems, today and tomorrow,” said Pollock, head of ONR’s C5ISRT Department. “Those who are interested in working with us should think about future maritime problems, not just the current ones.

“Look at the problem behind the future,” he continued. “You have an idea that will change some principle of a current naval system in use today, support it for future use, or even lead to a new system.”

Pollock made his remarks at a science and technology panel during the Naval Science and Technology (S&T)/Combat Systems/Technology, Systems and Ships 2024 Symposium held Dec. 9-12 in Arlington, Virginia.

Hosted by ONR and the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), the symposium enabled participants across the US Navy and Marine Corps, industry and academia to meet, discuss and learn about “Naval S&T: From Idea to Naval Dominance”. , especially in focused areas. crucial to the Department of the Navy.

The symposium featured two S&T panel discussions focused on ONR. Pollock’s panel, held on December 10, was titled “Seapower: The Science and Technology to Deliver in an Age of Strategic Competition and Technological Change.” ONR Executive Director Dr. Thomas Fu served as moderator. In addition to Pollock, participants included:

• Dr. Knox Millsaps, head of department, ONR Naval Air Warfare and Weapons
• Dr. Greg Orris, Naval Engineering Focus Area Leader, ONR Sea Warfare and Weapons

This panel touched on topics such as knowing the current state of strategic competition with other adversaries and the need to be agile in an ever-changing environment, the importance of Naval S&T Strategy in building partnerships, creating a culture of S&T excellence and improving sea dominance, and the need to revitalize basic research and collaborate with industry and academic partners.

During the discussion, Orris cited the conflict in Ukraine as a prime example where “asymmetric warfare through smaller unmanned platforms like drones is causing a shift in thinking. How can our maritime systems and platforms be more agile?”

Millsaps advised participants seeking ONR support to approach such partnerships with a focus on improvement. “Don’t come to ONR with a complete system that will solve all our maritime problems. If you have such a system, this is a shopping question. Come to ONR with the mindset, ‘I want to help solve a particular marine problem. I’m working on a system that could potentially do this, but I need help developing it further. Can ONR help?’ “

During the question-and-answer session that closed the panel, Fu emphasized the importance of cultivating the best talent to solve maritime S&T challenges. “To maintain our nation’s technological edge, ONR and the rest of the Naval Research and Development establishment must recruit S&T talent who want to solve hard problems and do good work.”

The second ONR-focused symposium panel, held Dec. 12, was titled “S&T to Improve Fleet and Force Lethality, Survivability, and Affordability.” Moderated by Capt. Steven Tarr III, military deputy, ONR Naval Warfare and Weapons Department, the panel included:

• Ben Bouffard, deputy director, Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Technology
• Neil Graf, Program Manager, ONR ManTech
• Dr

The panel focused on issues related to naval support, maintenance and production.

Panelists highlighted the current challenges facing US shipbuilding. They discussed how the end of the Cold War saw a drastic reduction in the American industrial base, which has never fully recovered to levels before the early 1990s. In fact, Bouffard said, many manufacturers and shipyards went out of business not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“Because of this reduction in shipbuilding capacity, it is becoming more difficult to maintain our older platforms and systems,” Wolk said. “A lot of parts are obsolete and there aren’t that many companies that can make them.

“One possible answer to this is additive manufacturing,” she continued, “which could be useful in the production of these parts so that these ships can be returned to sea more quickly – as well as the repair and maintenance of systems that operate under expeditionary conditions”.

Graf defended the role of the Navy ManTech program, housed at ONR, in responding to the Navy’s needs for the production and repair of platforms, systems and equipment. Navy ManTech works with defense contractors, the Naval Research and Development establishment, Navy acquisition program offices and academia to develop improved processes and equipment.

Among Navy ManTech’s core efforts are its seven Centers of Excellence, which serve as focal points for the development and transition of new manufacturing processes and equipment to various competencies.

“We want to bridge the gaps between research and development and manufacturing,” Graf said. “The ultimate goal of our S&T investments is to increase the affordability, performance and durability of critical naval platforms for the future force.”

Warren Duffie Jr. is a contractor for ONR Corporate Strategic Communications.