Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus made his first visit to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command, Sept. 13.
Mabus met with NSWC Crane Commanding Officer Capt. Charles S. LaSota and Technical Director Duane Embree as well as civilian and military personnel to learn how the warfare center supports the Navy.
“ It is an honor to have the secretary of the Navy visit NSWC Crane,” said LaSota. “He is passionate about our vital role in the nation’s defense and we appreciate his acknowledgement of our technology and support to the warfighter.”
During his visit, Mabus toured the command’s Ground Expeditionary Electronic Warfare Division to learn about its advancements in countering improvised explosive devices – one of the largest threats to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The secretary also visited the Crane-developed Ground Based Operational Surveillance System. A tower-based system that provides continuous, real-time surveillance, radars and wireless data transmission to communicate with troops on the ground as well as unmanned aerial systems – GBOSS has been a vital system against IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Other technology briefings showcased NSWC Crane’s power and energy initiatives including the Solar Stik and the Power Management Kit. NSWC Crane’s Solar Stik system consists of a single wind turbine generator and two solar panels that are used to charge a 12-volt lead acid battery system, allowing special forces to power equipment using energy harvested from the sun and wind, alleviating the burden and vulnerabilities associated with refueling generators. The Power Management Kit is a lightweight device that can charge equipment in the field used by the Navy’s explosive ordnance disposal team. The device eliminates nearly 50 pounds of batteries usually hauled by the teams.
This initiative is one of many throughout the Navy and Marine Corps which will enable the Department of the Navy to achieve Secretary Ray Mabus’ energy goals to improve our energy security and efficiency afloat and ashore, increase our energy independence, and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.
Mabus also learned about NSWC Crane science, technology, engineering and math outreach efforts to increase elementary, middle and high school students’ interest in technology-related fields as well as the warfare center’s nationally recognized wounded warrior program that helps veterans transition to civilian employment.
Located on the third largest naval installation in the world, the warfare center is a naval laboratory with research and development efforts that support the Navy by providing capabilities and resources in sensors, electronics, electronic warfare and special warfare weapons.
[mappress] Source: navy, September 16, 2011;