Sept 18, 2007: LAKEHURST, NJ: The Honorable Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) paid a visit to Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) Lakehurst on Monday, September 17, 2007 to meet with Navy officials and contractors for an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) update and facilities tour.

Hosted by Mr. John Wendolowski, Director of Support Equipment and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Department at Lakehurst, the visit marked the first time in the almost ninety year naval history of the installation that a seated Secretary has visited Lakehurst.

In addressing the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) employees at the installation, Dr. Winter described EMALS as “one of the most significant advancements in aircraft carrier technology since the development of nuclear power.” He went on to thank the Lakehurst teammates for “all their hard work in successfully bringing this technology to the fleet and providing this tremendous capability for the future of the Navy.” After meeting and seeing the professionalism of the Lakehurst team, Dr. Winter concluded by saying “you will be directly supporting the pilots and aircraft of our Navy as they serve in the defense of our Nation. I know you are up to the task.”

EMALS is a multi-phase research and development acquisition program that is designed to replace the current steam catapults used on aircraft carriers to launch aircraft from their decks. EMALS will be installed on the CVN-21 future class of carriers that is currently scheduled to be at sea by 2014.

The present steam catapults are large, heavy, energy inefficient, manpower intensive and dependant on steam provided by the ship’s engineering plant. EMALS is intended to be inherently more survivable, provide better performance, be less manpower intensive and have a lower life cycle cost than steam catapults. EMALS will be capable of launching all conventional and short takeoff fixed wing carrier aircraft currently projected for the Navy inventory through 2030, including the Joint Strike Fighter. The goal is to be capable of launching all future aircraft projected in the inventory through 2050.

General Atomics, of San Diego, CA is the contractor for the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) Contract that includes the design, fabrication, delivery, integration, test and support of one full scale, full length, shipboard representative EMALS facility. Hensel Phelps Construction Co., of Aurora, CO is the contracting firm that is building the infrastructure, supporting buildings and related utilities for the EMALS program.

The new EMALS testing and support facility in Lakehurst, scheduled for completion in 2008, will serve the Navy for many years to come. It will be used to test and evaluate future EMALS modifications as well as test and evaluate both upgraded aircraft and completely new aircraft that may be used in the future.

Also visiting Lakehurst for the EMALS briefing and tour were Ms. Mary Noonan, Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, Dr. Delores Etter, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN RDA), Vice Admiral Dave Architzel, Principal Deputy to ASN RDA, Real Admiral Kevin McCoy, NAVSEA Deputy Commander for Ship Design, Integration and Engineering, Rear Admiral Steven Eastburg, NAVAIR Assistant Commander for Research and Engineering and Ms. Steffanie Easter, NAVAIR Assistant Commander for Program Management .
Receiving awards were Mr. Vincent Sieracki for his career achievement with the Navy as an engineer and manager and Mr. George Sulich for his work with the EMALS program. Both were presented with the Superior Civilian Service Award.

Photo Caption: Mike Doyle, NAVAIR engineer (left) briefs Dr. Donald Winter, SECNAV (right) on the new EMALS system being installed at NAES Lakehurst. John Wendolowski, Director of SE & ALRE (center) looks on.