A new energetics laboratory opening at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division was commemorated on Tuesday morning with Congressman Steny Hoyer (D: MD 5th) and four of the five county commissioners in attendance. The new center will replace what’s known as building 600 on the base.
“We all know it’s time for a change,” NSWC IHD Technical Director Dennis McLaughlin said. “This new building now gives our scientists a modern high-tech facility that will allow them to more safely handle explosive material, perform laser spectroscopy, and conduct various research and development activities.”
“The facilities our researches will vacate are located in building 600, which was completed in 1945, prior to the end of the Second World War,” NSWC IHD Commanding Officer Captain Andy Buduo said. “It was a state of the art facility in those days, and while it has served our country well, its time has passed. To illustrate this point, scientists in building 500 often have to cope with the vibrations caused by passing vehicles. They have to schedule tests after normal working hours or stop in the middle of a test until a truck passes. This will no longer be an issue in our new facility.”
“The American people have chosen to invest $10 million here for this new facility and this is an important project,” Congressman Steny Hoyer (D: MD-5th) said. “The Department of Defense did not ask for this project; it was added by Congress. Why is it so important? Because it is the engineering lab that houses a critical function for our national security.
“Here, we have assembled the very best talents in the entire Department of Defense who are working to maintain superiority in energetics. You have proven that you are the best in the Department of Defense. Consider this: seventy-five percent of all explosives deployed in U.S. weapons were developed by Naval Support Facility Indian Head; Indian Head performs over sixty percent of all navy energetics workload; Indian Head has the largest U.S. workforce in the Department of Defense dedicated to energetics; we have over 900 scientists, engineers, technicians, and specialists working right here; and we have the largest concentration of PH.D.s working in the field of energetics among the navy warfare centers.
“Throughout our history, we have contributed to the nation’s knowledge and development of ordnance and weapons systems and the key ingredient is always our people. The mission you perform here is critical: using cutting-edge diagnostic instrumentation, you focus on understanding and exploiting energetics material reactions.
“The opening of this new facility helps to eliminate existing lab deficiencies and provide agile lab space to meet future needs of advanced platform systems, such as Sea Power 21. Making continued investments here at Indian Head is crucial – this is a capability we cannot afford to lose. We must remain sharp in fielding the most advanced energetics in the world.
“I commend you for your hard work and dedication every day to the mission here and pledge to you our continued support to ensure your continued success.”
“We’re so proud,” Charles County Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly (D) said. “There are many things we’re proud of in Charles County and at the top of the list is NAVSEA war center in Indian Head. This is a great day.”
“The technological advances that are taking places here at Indian Head will help ensure the sustainability of this base as we move forward,&
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