The NEEC Blog

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 4/6/2012 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 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 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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By Keith Bretzius on 1/3/2012 3:50 PM
Unchartered WatersNaval Engineering – Aspiration or Necessity? The newly released on-line issue of PRISM, the flagship publication of the American Society for Engineering Education, features an article titled, “Uncharted Waters”. If you have any interest in systems engineering, the future of our engineering workforce, the Navy, or our national defense - I recommend taking the time to read this article by Art Pine.

Summarized in the article is the evolution of the naval engineering landscape as seen through the eyes of the Navy and the researchers who support arguably the most important of the four National Naval Responsibilities outlined by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

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News Feeds

FY-13 Chief's Board Package Deadline Approaches

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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 02:46:48 -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
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