Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC)’s Post

Happy WTI Wednesday! Meet LT Nico Pacheco! Originally from Lompoc, CA, LT Pacheco is an Amphibious Warfare (AMW) WTI who received his patch after completing the August 2024 course of instruction. He is currently attached to Surface Advanced Warfighting School (SAWS) completing his production tour and helping to increase the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Force. Top-talented, qualified Surface Warfare Officers interested in becoming a WTI and joining the SMWDC team, like LT Pacheco and so many more, should contact swo_wti@navy.mil for more information and application procedures and deadlines. #tacticalexcellencebydesign #AMW #WTI #SMWDC

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Surface Warfare Officer Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) Re-Blue! Re-Blue provides an opportunity to receive updates on the latest doctrine, tactics, techniques, procedures, experimentation, and weapon systems in the Fleet, and reinvest in each WTI's community skills, exchange ideas, while building camaraderie across the WTI cadre. The event will be held 7 - 9 January at the Surface Combat Systems Training Command at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego. If you have questions or need additional information about how to RSVP, reach out to LCDR Jennifer Bower at jennifer.m.bower6.mil@us.navy.mil. #SMWDC #WTI #ReBlue #tacticalexcellencebydesign

RDML Wilson Marks had the distinct pleasure of meeting Rear Admiral Dong Lae Kim, Commander of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) Cruise Training Task Group (CTTG) and members of his staff, along with Captain Chang-gyu Lee, Naval Attaché of Korea Embassy to the United States, and Commander Young Jin Han, commanding officer of the ROKS Hansando (ATH-81) to discuss surface training, promote shared values, and reaffirm the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance.

Happy WTI Wednesday! Meet LCDR Aaron Bankus, one of the rare mine warfare (MIW) WTIs! Originally from Mountoursville, PA, LCDR Bankus was the only MIW WTI graduate from the August 2024 course of instruction. He is currently attached to the Mine Countermeasures Technical Directorate in Point Loma utilizing his knowledge as an MIW expert to help increase the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Force. Read what he has to say about MIW: "I want to be a voice and advocate for MIW in the Fleet. It is the smallest and least understood warfare area with potential to be a decisive factor in armed conflict as history repeatedly shows. Operationally, MIW blends environmental analysis, probabilistic search theory, weaponeering, and survivability into an interdisciplinary combination that is both intellectually stimulating and eye-opening. As adversaries continue to invest in advanced mining technology and growing mine stocks, coherent innovation, development, and maintenance of our own MIW forces is the linchpin that will enable fleet operations and ensure freedom of navigation." If you or someone you know is a top-talented, qualified Surface Warfare Officer interested in becoming a WTI and joining the SMWDC team, like LT Bankus and so many others, then contact swo_wti@navy.mil for more information, application procedures, and deadlines. We look forward to hearing from you. #tacticalexcellencebydesign #SMWDC #WTI #MIW

On behalf of Commander, Naval Surface Force (CNSF), Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), via the Surface Requirements Group (SURFRG), is offering an opportunity for commercial companies to present material solutions to top U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Tactical Challenges on 13-14 November, 2024 at SMWDC Headquarters in San Diego, CA. If your company has a potential solution and is interested in briefing it to the SURFRG panel, please contact our team at SURFRG_info@us.navy.mil for a solution paper template. Solution papers can be submitted at the unclassified or classified level (up to SECRET) no later than 6 November. All solution papers will be reviewed for impact to the Tactical Challenge, maturity of the technology, and feasibility/executability of the solution (can it be seen and touched).  If your solution is selected for presentation to the panel, you will be assigned a time slot and given additional instructions.  Solution papers may be presented in person or virtually (up to SECRET).  Solutions demonstrating high capability in solving a Surface Warfare Tactical Challenge will be passed to Navy Program Offices for further evaluation. We look forward to hearing from interested companies and possibly meeting with you in November. Please send any questions to  SURFRG_info@us.navy.mil.  SURFRG Tactical Challenge Areas (not in order):  - Air to Surface Tactical Data Integration                   - Command & Control in a Denied, Degraded, Exploited Environment                          - Counter-Unmanned Systems (C-UxS)                    - Enable Offensive Capability to Additional Platforms       - Enhance Long Range Surface Fires Coordination    - Layered Hard Kill/Soft Kill Terminal Defense - Ordnance Reload-at-Sea - SPY-1 Counter Electronic Attack Capability                      - Torpedo Defense

Happy WTI Wednesday! For the first WTI Wednesday of October, we'd like to introduce you to LT Daniel Franceschina! Coming to us from Chapin, SC, LT Franceschina is an Amphibious Warfare (AMW) WTI from the August 2024 WTI course of instruction. He is currently a student a Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) expanding his knowledge to become an expert tactician to increase the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Force. Top-talented, qualified Surface Warfare Officers interested in becoming a WTI and joining the SMWDC team, like LT Franceschina and so many more, should contact swo_wti@navy.mil for more information and application procedures and deadlines. #tacticalexcellencebydesign #WTI #AMW #SMWDC

Thank you Chief Logistics Specialist Ivy Villareal for your inspirational leadership as SMWDC's Command Senior Enlisted Leader! Your hard work, dedication, and daily efforts truly made a difference for the SMWDC team. Wishing you fair winds and following seas as you continue to lead from the front at your next command, Naval Special Warfare Logistics Support Unit ONE! Your impact will be felt long after you move on. #SMWDC #Leadership #Navy

Congratulations to SMWDC's newest Chief Petty Officers! Last Friday marked the beginning of a new journey for ISC Dominique Hazzard (third from the left) and LSC Ivy Evans-Harris (second from the right) during a CPO pinning ceremony at the Murphy Canyon Chapel. Our chiefs are dedicated to supporting our sailors, enhancing our Navy's culture, and enhancing the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Force across all domains.

Recently, SMWDC's CAPT Vic Sheldon, Commander Dawn Ricketts, Lieutenant Commander Beth Reed, PE, Lieutenant Commander Morgan Pierce, RAN, Lieutenant Commander Kelli Lewis, Lieutenant Commander Andrew Barker, Lieutenant Shelby Brueske, and Ms. Andra Kopac joined military leaders across the Five Eyes (FVEY) community for a Maritime Warfare Working Group (MWWG) in Sydney, Australia from 9-13 September. The theme of "Fight tonight, Fight in the dark and Fight at range" involving over 100 participants from the five nations, explored becoming an interoperable and interchangeable force for the high-end fight. The MWWG, which directly support FVEY Navy Staff Talks, consisted of a week of strategic and intelligence information exchange between military and science, defense, and technology subject matter experts focused on working alongside those who have a shared commitment to building and honing the warfighting edge and working as a combined lethal force to maintaining global maritime security. A special thank you to the Royal Australian Navy for hosting the event this year, along the photos from the opening day, who received our personnel with a Welcome to Country ceremony conducted by one of the local Traditional Elders giving the wise words that each day we have a chance to be better. Additional thanks to the following commands for attending and providing much needed and valued support to SMWDC personnel and those from the other FVEY nations: Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC), Naval Information Warfighting Development Center (NIWDC), Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), Air Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE (VX-1), Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, PEO IWS, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Office of Naval Research, Training and Technical Command, and Nimitz Warfare Analysis Center (ONI Nimitz).

Happy WTI Wednesday! Today, we would like to highlight LT Eric Gustafson! Originally from Rochester, MN, LT Gustafson is a recently patched Anti-Submarine / Anti-Surface WTI from the August 2024 course of instruction. He is currently attached to the USS Nitze (DDG 94) sharing and training the knowledge and professionalism he learned during the course of instruction with his fellow tactical watch standers to increase their tactical proficiency. Top-talented, qualified Surface Warfare Officers interested in becoming a WTI and joining the SMWDC team should contact: swo_wti@navy.mil for more information and application procedures. #tacticalexcellencebydesign #WTI #ASW #SUW #SMWDC