NAWCWD commander Rear Adm. Mat Winter and NAWCWD executive director Scott O’Neil flank Jay Kovar, head of the Vulnerability branch, as he cuts the ribbon at the Weapons Survivability Laboratory. (U.S. Navy photo)
2005 BRAC implementation completed
CHINA LAKE, Calif., – Thursday, Sep. 15, 2011, marked the end of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) effort allowing Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) to close a chapter in its command history. Three ribbon cuttings were held on the official “final day” of BRAC 2005 following the completion of three testing facilities, the Weapons Survivability Laboratory, the Fuze Test Center facility, and the Weapons Dynamic Research Development Test and Evaluation Center facility.
According to NAWCWD commander Rear Adm. Mat Winter, the BRAC initiation was promulgated through law by Congress to better posture the Navy for the future. As a result, NAWCWD became the Department of the Navy’s Weapons and Armament Center of Excellence. Six Navy weapons development and integration activities were relocated to NAWCWD and 10 new laboratories, test facilities, magazines, and offices were constructed to accommodate personnel who filled more than 1,000 jobs.
BRAC Implementation program manager Ruth Hogan was recognized for her three-year management effort that culminated the $400 million, 10-facility construction project. Official visitors and guests included Senator Jean Fuller (California’s 18th District); Will Cushing district director for Assemblywoman Shannon Grove; Ben McFarland, field representative for Congressman Kevin McCarthy; Rear Adm. Randy Mahr, commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division; Cmdr. Bryan Heller, representing Navy Region Southwest; Ray Brule, director of Infrastructure Business Operations; Ridgecrest Mayor pro-tem Chip Holloway; Ridgecrest city manager Kurt Wilson, and Ridgecrest city councilman Jason Patin.
During his address at the Weapons Dynamic RDT&E center, Winter stated, “NAWCWD is one team – focused on providing our warfighter the decisive advantage.”
NAWCWD executive director Scott O'Neil embraces NAWCWD BRAC Implementation program manager Ruth Hogan following the ceremonial ribbon cutting at the Weapons Survivability Laboratory. Hogan oversaw the BRAC implementation project from cradle to grave. (U.S. Navy photo)
Left to right, Scott O’Neil, Joel Huddleston, Rob Beacom, and Rear Adm. Mat Winter prepare to “cut the ribbon” at the Fuze Test Center, Sept. 15. (U.S. Navy photo)
Overseeing the ribbon cutting at the Fuze Test Center are left to right, head of Weapons and Energetics Dave Janiec, NAWCWD executive director Scott O’Neil, Ridgecrest Mayor pro-tem Chip Holloway, NAWCWD commander Rear Adm. Mat Winter, Senator Jean Fuller, Ridgecrest city manager Kurt Wilson and Ridgecrest city councilman Jason Patin. (U.S. Navy photo)
NAWCWD associate for Energetics, Therese Atienzamoore, addresses the audience at the Weapons Dynamic RDT&E Center at the third and final ribbon cutting ceremony that marked the end of the 2005 BRAC initiative. (U.S. Navy photo)
Left to right, NAWCWD executive director Scott O’Neil, head of Ordnance Test and Evaluation Division Steve Newman, Dynamic Test engineer Jeff Prevost and NAWCWD commander Rear Adm. Mat Winter prepare to “cut the ribbon” at the Weapons Dynamic RDT&E Center. (U.S. Navy photo)