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30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News FEATURE NAVY Science and technology are America’s secret weapon, according to Navy lead- ers presenting at the 2010 Office of Naval Research (ONR) Naval Science and Technology Partnership Conference Nov. 8-10 at Crystal City, Va. "A U.S. Navy Sailor should never be in a fair fight," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead. The Navy’s top officer said that tech- nology and innovation will ensure that Sailors will have the upper hand in a bat- tle. "It's important that we have a dia- logue with those involved in innovation and vice versa. That dialogue must take place at the tactical level with our Sailors on the deckplates." More than 2,000 leaders from industry, military and academia attended the con- ference, which was sponsored by ONR with support from the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE). "Secretary Ray Mabus and I are hon- ored to lead a Navy and Marine Corps that is without peer in the world," said Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Work. "Since 1946 in the Office of Naval Research and the broader Science and Technology Committee has been the in- cubator for discovery, research and inno- vation that has helped to keep our Sailors and Marines at the forefront of science, technology and warfighting capabilities, which keep them at the top of their game." S&T is more than a Navy prior- ity. It’s critical for every goal we face as a nation, according to Thomas Kalil, deputy director for policy with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. "Even in the tight budget, we made investments in research and devel- opment. The Department of Defense and the Navy have a long and distinguished record of making investments in science and technology, which have a huge im- pact on national security and the econ- omy." Key topics addressed at the 2010 S&T Partnership Conference were direct en- ergy, hypervelocity, naval warfighter per- formance, information dominance, total ownership cost reduction, expeditionary and irregular warfare and power and en- ergy were some of the topics discussed at the conference. And the key to success in these critical mission areas is partner- ships. Rear Adm. Nevin P. Carr Jr., Chief of Naval Research, said ONR tries to find new technology throughout the world. ONR’s strategic plan is based on partner- ships around the world. "We execute across academia," said Carr. "We reach out to 70 countries, all 50 states and a thousand different touch points in academia and industry." “Partnerships will be the way that dis- ruptive technologies will be developed,” Work said. Work addressed the value of having the best technologies, but cautioned that ca- pability needs to be balanced with af- fordability. “When we can build a $15 million interceptor to shoot down a $5 million ICBM, we’re on the wrong end of the equation,” he said. Work also talked about the emphasis on subjects such as “greening the fleet,” and developing new energy sources. But, he said, these are not just clichés. “It’s all about warfighting.” Carr talked about the warfighting po- tential of the electric ship, “where elec- tricity becomes a commodity.” He mentioned the flexibility of diverting power for weapons, but, he asked “how do you store it.” Carr also discussed hypersonics, di- rected energy weapons and electromag- netic railguns, which allow for a “deepeing of the magazines.” He ex- plained how the inert railgun rounds will increase the depth of fire while at the same time be safer to store aboard ship because they have no propellant or ex- plosive charge. Directed energy weapons can be fired again and again, as long as power is available. The attendees found the conference both a useful source of information and connecting with potential partners. “It was the most substantive and well organ- ized naval conference I have been to all year” said Steve Benson, manager for strategic planning for defense and secu- rity systems for Sensis. According to Lockheed Martin’s Jeff Niner, the conference was an important recurring event for industry as it provides a good clear look into ONR. “This con- ference is a way for ONR to open up the aperture of their lens to the greater in- dustry community, let us know what they need and also hear what is going on ‘out there’ beyond the walls of the Ballston offices. It truly is a win-win.” In addition to being a forum for learn- ing, many participants found it useful to display their capabilities. "It was important that the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) be rep- resented at ONR/ASNE's S&T Confer- ence and that we were able to reach out to so many interested parties and decision- makers with information regarding our work in the field of ground robotics,” said Fred Lash, a BAE Systems employee who supports the Marine Corps Warfight- Focus on Partnerships; Support to Warfighters Science & Technology: A Priority for the Navy By Edward Lundquist “A U.S. Navy Sailor should never be in a fair fight.” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead. Rear Adm. Nevin Carr, Chief of Naval Research. Undersecretary of the Navy Robert O. Work presents the keynote address. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisi- tion Sean Stakley (ALL Photos: U.S. Navy photo by John F . W illiams/Released)
