With an influx of new scientists and engineers at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division owing to concentrated hiring efforts following a long period of downsizing and attrition, the division was faced with a knowledge gap between the remaining old guard and new hires. The solution? Weapons 101.

In March 2008, the Weapons and Energetics Department’s Management Council decided to develop the Weapons 101 course to be taught by subject matter experts (SMEs) as a means to transfer knowledge from the SMEs to a whole new generation of weapon developers and acquisition managers. Steve Lyda and Dr. Jeffery Davis organized a course in which 35 separate presentations teach the essentials of developing, fielding, and employing weapons. The goal of the class is to provide employees with the bigger technical picture of weapons by exposing students to the past, present, and future of weapons development.

Taught at the U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology, the curriculum includes: (Day 1) Introduction, Technical Project Office brief, NAWCWD History Videos, System Engineering, System Safety, Weapons Museum tour, Mission Planning, and Battle-space Engineering ; (Day 2) Guidance and Seekers, Control Systems, Mid-course Guidance, Data Links, Aero-thermal, Airframe, and Solid Propulsion; (Day 3) Air Breathing Propulsion, Armament Section, Target Detection Device, Safe Arming Device, Fuze Contact Device, Warheads, Explosive Train, Lethality, IM, Weapon Prototyping and Weapon Software; (Day 4) Modeling and Simulation, Power, Environmental Tests, Logistics, Ship Integration and Aircraft Integration (Day 5) Test and Integration, Weapons at War, and I Bar tour.

The course has been well received by students. “Everyone should take this course,” said one student from Patuxent River. “Although I have been at NAVAIR AD for 20-plus years, I could have used this course when I first started working on weapons three years ago.” A China Lake student said, “Weapons 101 broadened my horizons -- a wonderful class. To say I learned a lot is an understatement.”

The class gives a unique overview to weapons development and an opportunity to meet the SMEs from each subject area. The class is offered at no cost to participants in the Engineer and Scientist Development Program and recently hired journeymen scientists and engineers. This class is open, by invitation, to employees of other Naval Air Systems Command sites.

Since it debuted in June 2008, the course has been held five times with some 111 students receiving instruction. The goal is to hold the course once each month. Upcoming sessions are set for Feb. 23-27; March 23-27; April 6-10; and May 4-8. The schedule for the rest of 2009 will be announced in May.

Advanced Weapons 201 classes on System Engineering and other topics are planned to be given later this year.

Anyone wanting more information or interested in registering for the class should contact John Gustafson by email at [email protected] or call 760-939-1146.