DAHLGREN, Va. – U.S. Navy warships patrol the globe regardless of challenges and Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Hispanic leaders – some of whom were once Sailors – share this resolve. Delivery of new and emerging technologies is their ongoing, urgent mission in spite of COVID-19 because they know it bolsters the effectiveness, morale, and readiness of warfighters to fight, win and return safely.
John Colon – leader of NSWCDD’s new Surface Combatant Test, Evaluation, and Analysis Branch – was one such Sailor. At sea, he witnessed fleet issues resolved when Dahlgren software updated the Aegis Combat System. He joined fellow NSWCDD Hispanic leaders during this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month to share experiences, offer career advice and to convey an important message to the fleet.
That message from Colon, along with Camille Ward, Lory Santiago-Mendez, Felix Lopez, Jessica Delgado, Moises Iglesias-Colon, Javier Villanueva, Leyla Hernandez and Dr. Luis Rodriguez, is a promise: “We will meet your needs as warfighters in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“As a former Sailor, I have seen the impacts of providing a deliverable to meet the needs of the fleet, and I want to continue in that tradition,” said Colon, who supported numerous exercises as an operations specialist while testing the Aegis Combat System aboard USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) during the 1980s. “With the pandemic situation, we continue leveraging existing and new tools such as Agile, DevSecOps, and automation to enable our engineers to get the job done. Our collaboration with all stakeholders ensures that we stay on track in meeting deliverables to the fleet on time.”
As the Future Combat Systems Division Head, Camille Ward will continue to lead the expansion of new combat systems capabilities through defining future combat systems, rapid prototyping, developing software and pursuing related research and development.
“Our job is bigger than us,” said Ward. “We are here to do our part for our military and our nation.” She emphasized that developing technologies for the fleet requires true leadership with passion, drive, integrity and competence along with management skills that ensure success for NSWCDD teams.
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