The Engineer and Scientist Development Program graduated 31 employees during a ceremony held Aug. 6 in Michelson Lab at China Lake.

“ESDP, specifically the touring aspect, is time tested and will continue to be a valuable resource for the Weapons Division workforce,” said Rear Adm. Mark Skinner, NAWCWD commander. “The program does more than develop the skills of our entry level engineers; it also provides the opportunity for our managers to continue to develop as mentors and leaders.”

Shawn Hertz, the China Lake ESDP site technical coordinator, announced the names of the graduates, 29 from China Lake and two from Point Mugu. The graduates were Luke Dawson, Kristianne Aberer, Jared Grover, Lucas Mohatt, Kent Dickey, Peter Wang, Alex Zobell, James Tuey, Jay Kucera, Quyen Pham, Justin Shatto, Michael Moroz, Ronald Watson, Kyle Norman, Melody Rattanapote, Lily Ho, Daniel Connor, Kristin Jackson, Steve Ortiz, Derek Bates, Dylan Riley, Eric Gogley, Nhien Tran, Ryan Schmidt, Vinh Pham, Daniel Omoto, David Schaeffer, Evan Thomas, Jody Wilson, Kellsey Proctor and Khanh Nguyen. Upon receiving their plaques, the graduates shared some thoughts on the program and expressed appreciation for the opportunities to explore the base and different disciplines via the tours.

“The program was a great opportunity,” said Mohatt, an electronics engineer in the Safe-Arm Development Branch. “Thanks for letting me blow things up.”

Enthusiasm for their commitment to support the warfighter was heard from the graduates throughout the ceremony.

“ESDP is a very worthwhile program and I highly recommend it to other young engineers and scientists,” said Watson, a flight test engineer at the Advanced Weapons Laboratory. “I love what I do for the fleet because I get to come to work and drop bombs.”

An employee starts the development program as either a DP-1 or a DP-2. ESDP is generally a three- to five-year program consisting of three developmental events and associated requirements. The developmental events are tours, training, and a progressive increase in the scope and responsibility of work assignments.

The rotational assignment or tour requirement dates back to the 1940s and the former Junior Professional Program. During the first 12 to 18 months, at least three tours of about three months each are required, with one of the tours required to be performed outside the hiring department. At the end of the tours, the ESDP then selects a permanent work group.

The program has two separate training requirements. One of the training requirements is to be level II certified within the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act; the other training requirement is to complete at least 300 hours of various technical and professional capabilities training areas. The final requirement of the program is for the ESDP to demonstrate performance as a journeyman engineer or scientist and be promoted to the DP-3.

“I want to congratulate all of the graduates and thank your supervisors and mentors,” said Scott O’Neil, NAWCWD executive director. “I encourage you all to continue your development and hope that you have a long contributing career at WD.”

PHOTO CUTLINE

Photo by Dan O’Connor
NAWCWD Commander Rear Adm. Mark Skinner and WD Executive Director Scott O’Neil join the Engineer and Scientist Development Program graduates who were present for graduation ceremony on Aug. 6. Pictured from left are Skinner, Luke Dawson, Kristianne Aberer, Jared Grover, Lucas Mohatt, Kent Dickey, Peter Wang, Alex Zobell, James Tuey, Jay Kucera, Quyen Pham, Justin Shatto, Michael Moroz, Ronald Watson, Kyle Norman, Melody Rattanapote, Lily Ho, Daniel Connor, Kristin Jackson, Steve Ortiz, Derek Bates, Dylan Riley, Eric Gogley, and O'Neil.
Graduates not present for the ceremony were Nhien Tran, Ryan Schmidt, Vinh Pham, Daniel Omoto, David Schaeffer, Evan Thomas, Jody Wilson, Kellsey Proctor and Khanh Nguyen.