INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Ashley Johnson, the technical director at Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) was recently awarded the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award – the highest honorary award the Secretary of the Navy can confer on a Department of the Navy civilian employee during an award ceremony on December 9, 2024 at NSWC IHD.
During his decade of service as the Technical Director of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division beginning in 2014, Johnson focused on improving the safety and efficiency of energetics manufacturing. He led the development of the Navy’s Energetics Comprehensive Modernization Plan for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Research, Development, Test and Engineering – a plan to revitalize the nation’s munitions manufacturing base to support wartime readiness.
“We wanted to make sure we recognized people, not just at the end of their career in retirement, but also while they’re still making significant impacts to our Navy,” said Dr. Marty Irvine, Executive Director of the Naval Surface Warfare Centers. “Ashley’s leadership is going to continue to enable our support to the warfighter, while advancing energetics research, development and production.”
The Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award is reserved for contributions that are so unusual or significant that recognition by the Secretary of the Navy is warranted. Johnson’s work in positioning NSWC IHD as a key player in the nation’s Munitions Industrial Base has been recognized throughout the Department of Defense. Not only did he successfully plan for and implement this robust modernization plan, his successful pursuit of several public-private-partnerships have created a stronger coalition with industry that delivers on the overarching mission of ultimately providing munitions to the warfighter.
In addition to his role leading Navy’s Energetics Comprehensive Modernization Plan, he led the development of the first new underwater explosive the Navy has produced in over 30 years. He worked with multiple external organizations developing in-house capabilities to improve Indian Head’s infrastructure and facilities, many of which are almost a century old. He championed a “continuity of government” mindset with the establishment of the Indian Head University with various general, technical, business, and leadership colleges.
“Ashley G. Johnson’s dedication, leadership, and professionalism produced exceptional results in the Energetics Community and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Department of the Navy,” read the award presented on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.
NSWC IHD — a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command and part of the Navy’s Science and Engineering Establishment — is the leader in ordnance, energetics, and EOD solutions. The Division focuses on energetics research, development, testing, evaluation, in-service support, manufacturing and disposal; and provides warfighters solutions to detect, locate, access, identify, render safe, recover, exploit and dispose of explosive ordnance threats.