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By Keith Bretzius on 5/16/2012 3:10 PM
The following commentary was submitted and written by University of New Orleans Professor Chris B. McKesson, P.E. Thank you for your contribution!

Knowledge ManagmentIn my work with Dr. Cherie Trumbach I have learned about an important toolset in Knowledge Management, and the use of this toolset in strategic planning.

It began when I was pondering the question “Where is the greatest R&D need in Naval Engineering?” From Dr. Trumbach I learned that there are well-defined tools that can be used to answer exactly this question. I believe that this is a field of great opportunity for naval engineering.

This is admittedly a new area for naval engineers, but as a result it has the potential to give remarkably high pay-offs: A so called high-risk/high-payoff opportunity. Whereas in the past our ‘tools’ investment has been principally in traditional ship design disciplines, we are now in a situation where a much larger gain – say 5- or 10-x – would result from an investment in tools in that discipline known as “knowledge management.”

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By Keith Bretzius on 4/26/2012 11:20 AM
Littoral Combat ShipIt should come as no surprise to this community that the Navy’s LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) Program has been under a lot of scrutiny since its inception almost a decade ago. The scrutiny continues as earlier this month Ronald O’Rourke, a specialist in naval affairs at CRS (Congressional Research Service), submitted a report for congress on the much maligned program.  After a review of the report I wanted to use this forum to discuss what our community thought about LCS and its issues. According to Mr. O’Rourke (these are stated in the report), Congress should address these potential oversights:



Changes in Mission Module Equipment – Apparently a lot of changes have been made to the types of mission modules that would be utilized creating issues with regard to capability.  Combat Survivability...
By Keith Bretzius on 4/18/2012 10:00 AM
JEC WebsiteA new report (but old really) was recently release by the Joint Economic Committee. You can read the press release here: http://jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=c306d318-f19b-4a36-ae40-515d9c1871b2

The JEC, Chaired by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), reported on a number of findings related to fostering STEM education and developing our future workforce as it relates to STEM careers. To those of you familiar with the “Rising Above the Gathering Storm; Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future” report (stop rolling your eyes) a lot of this will come as old news. In fact, personally, I am curious as to why this report is done in 2013 when the Rising...
By Keith Bretzius on 4/6/2012 1:04 PM
The following commentary was submitted and written by University of New Orleans Professor Chris B. McKesson, P.E. Thank you for your contribution!

I teach a couple of courses in that system integration process known as "ship design." In those courses I emphasize the way that the pieces come together to craft a ship. And, at the 3000-level, I dwell on merchant ships as the example. There are plenty of degrees of freedom just with a tanker or tugboat! But my career has been spent in warship design, and I'd like to offer an elective in that subject. The focus of the elective would be "How is the process different when the ship is a warship?" And it is this question that I would like to bounce to you. What makes naval vessel design unique? First, let’s note that I haven’t defined what I mean by “naval” or “warship.” Am I writing about combatants or does this include auxiliaries? Well that’s a good question and I bounce it back to you: Is the design of a naval auxiliary much different from the design of...
By Keith Bretzius on 3/26/2012 6:11 AM
Just over a week ago on Friday, March 16th we had an unseasonably warm winter day. I am sure it was like that for most of the country so it would come as no surprise if you found yourself outside and away from the radio that day. In case you missed it, I want to bring your attention to a great discussion that took place on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation – Science Friday.” The focus – Sizing Up America’s High-Tech Talent.

This was yet another discussion about STEM and our constant push over the past years to boost U.S. competitiveness in a global world where we, the United States, are basically becoming average. The discussion begins with the well-known report Prepared for the Presidents of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine titled,...
By Keith Bretzius on 2/24/2012 8:09 AM

If you have not had the opportunity I suggest watching this video to hear about the future of shipbuilding. Thanks to West 2012 for providing the great content. 

By Keith Bretzius on 2/20/2012 12:21 PM
Rising Above the Gathering StormRevisiting the Storm When I was first hired in this position I was told to read the report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” since this report played a critical role in the formation of the Naval Engineering Education Center. What was the report about? I suppose if I had to summarize the 500+ page report, I would say - Globalization has increased competition across the world and delivered knowledge and technology to areas which has resulted in a gradual shift in the economic and strategic leadership the United States has experienced for generations. As a result, we are quickly losing our competitive edge. Just the other day I was on the National Academy of Engineering website (http://www.nae.edu) and I noticed one of the most popular items was, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,...
By Keith Bretzius on 2/6/2012 5:40 PM
LCS Mission ModulesThe Navy recently announced a major milestone as it completed the first phase of reliability testing for its Remote Minehunting System (RMS).  The RMS is an integral part of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mine countermeasures mission package which will go into another phase of reliability testing sometime in 2012.  There is no question that mines can wreak havoc on naval vessels and the Navy has been working hard to develop autonomous technology for detecting and identifying these threats. Autonomous technology reduces the human element in these mundane and taxing tasks. Also, throw in Iran and current threats surrounding the Straits of Hormuz and this task is especially important in littoral and shallow-water zones. What’s key is that...
By Keith Bretzius on 1/26/2012 12:09 PM
NEEC Featured Research: An Unmanned Vehicle Testbed for Teaching, Training and Learning Navy-Relevant Autonomy Posted: January 26, 2012  When talking about naval engineering research, few topics grab more headlines than Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UASs). Whether high in the sky or in the ocean depths, UASs are extremely important in supporting the Navy’s missions. Offering the ability to remove humans from physical danger and mentally fatiguing situations, UASs are ideal forexploration and surveillance as the battlefield is broadened and technological advances.... Read More (registered members only)

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By Keith Bretzius on 1/23/2012 3:44 PM
Naval Engineering ForcastIt's good to know that in troubled budget times, the Navy's shipbuilding programs appear to be safe from cuts…at least for now. As outlined in this article post on the Navy Times, construction programs apparently will not be slashed to meet an expected Pentagon-wide spending reduction.  

“We’ve placed a priority on shipbuilding,” Sean Stackley, the Navy’s top acquisition official, told reporters last week. “You can see a lot of alignment between the defense strategy and what the Navy does.”



This is good news, especially when  you consider the DoD’s recently released report, “Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense”, which outlines a strategic focus on the Pacific and heighten concern in areas of Anti-Access/Area Denial  (A2/AD) - where the Navy’s intent is to credibly deter aggression and to keep waterways safe and free. 

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News Feeds

FY-13 Chief's Board Package Deadline Approaches

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

Sailors who have submitted a board package to the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY-13) Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Selection Board can confirm its receipt at Navy Personnel Command (NPC) by clicking on the "Selection Board Status" link on www.npc.navy.mil, officials said May 14.

Essex Returns to San Diego after 12 Years

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

USS Essex (LHD 2) is returning to San Diego May 17, after completing 12 years as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in Sasebo, Japan.

Swift Conducts TSC Visit in Pointe Noire

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

Congolese navy sailors greeted the crew of High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) after they arrived in Pointe Noire to conduct a theater security cooperation (TSC) visit as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2012, May 15.

Blue Ridge Builds Friendship with Indonesia

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

Sailors aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), embarked 7th Fleet staff and Marines assigned to Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific departed Jakarta, Indonesia May 15, after a four-day port visit strengthening bonds between the U.S. and Indonesian navies.

USS George H.W. Bush Receives Fleet's Top Honors

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) received the fleet's highest recognition for superior operational performance and excellence in safety during an awards ceremony in the ship's hangar bay, May 16.

2011 Sailors of the Year Advanced to Chief Petty Officer

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

The Navy's 2011 Sailors of the Year (SOY) were meritoriously advanced to chief petty officer during a ceremony held at the Navy Memorial, May 17.

Navy Announces New Uniform Components, Regulations

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

NAVADMIN 164/12, released May 18, announced the chief of naval operations' (CNO) approval of a number of changes to uniforms and uniform wear policy.

New Policy Allows Reserve Leave Carry-Over

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

Navy implementation of DoD policy allowing Reservists to carry over leave earned during an active duty period to a later active duty period was announced in NAVADMIN 163/12, May 18.

UNITAS Pacific Begins in Peru

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

Naval representatives from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and the United States gathered in the Ricardo Palma auditorium at the Peruvian naval base to officially recognize the beginning of UNITAS Pacific (PAC) at an opening ceremony in Callao, Peru, May 14.

NECC Announces Formation of Coastal Riverine Force

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) is establishing a new command, the Coastal Riverine Force (CORIVFOR), a merger of Riverine Group 1 and the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF), June 1.

Got a Pirate Problem? There's Even an App for That

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

The Department of Defense will begin funding an Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored project aimed at developing Web applications to help multinational navies police the world's oceans, officials announced May 14.

Navy Commissions Amphibious Transport Dock Ship San Diego

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:24:07 -0400

The Navy will commission the newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship San Diego during a 10 a.m. PDT ceremony Saturday, May 19, 2012, in San Diego, Calif.

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The Future of LCS
How are Warships Different?
Our Sputnik Moment?
Revisiting the Storm
Why Minehunting Reminds Me of Naval Engineering
The Naval Engineering Forecast

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