Laboratory Coordinator:

Karon Myles 
STEM / NEEC Director 
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona 
karon.a.myles.civ@us.navy.mil  

 

• All participants must be US Citizens. Corona does not accept Dual Citizens.
   
• Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division  / The Navy's Independent Assessment Agent 
   
• Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers are the Navy's principal research, development, test and evaluation, analysis and assessment activities for ship and submarine platform and machinery technology for surface combat systems, ordnance, mines, and strategic systems products and support. 
   
• As part of NAVSEA, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division is one of the Navy's newest federal labs and is responsible for gauging the war-fighting capability of weapons and integrated combat systems, through assessment of systems' performance, readiness, quality, supportability, and the adequacy of training. The Navy, Marine Corps and other military agencies rely on NSWC Corona to validate whether complex weapons and combat systems work properly; whether their measurements accurate and the calibrations are right; and whether their training is effective in preparation for the fight. 
   
• With nearly 2,400 scientists, engineers, support staff and contractors, the command’s support to the Fleet, program managers and warfighters has saved the Navy tens of millions of dollars by providing decision makers with accurate, unbiased information used to resolve problems early in the development cycle. Corona's six departments are organized in support of a subset of the Navy's chartered technical capabilities, which, in collaboration with the other warfare centers, form a strategic and synergistic team ready to meet the challenges of the future. The Warfare Center is home to three premiere national laboratories and assessment centers: the Joint Warfare Assessment Lab; the Measurement Science and Technology Lab; and the new Daugherty Memorial Assessment Center. 

 

 

• AC01 Warfare Systems Performance Assessment Provides Performance Assessment of deploying and deployed complete weapons systems and combat systems using consistent, government approved criteria, processes, and methodologies. Provides customers with objective measures of systems and force-level warfare capability in threat-representative scenarios and operational environments. Manages the operational collection, distribution, and analysis of Navy, Joint, and Coalition warfare system data. Identifies and evaluates factors that enhance or limit systems capability and effectiveness. Provides the analytic framework to identify performance issues and validate corrective actions. Provides training feedback to operational Naval forces and the Navy-wide training community for in-port and at-sea exercises. Enables Fleet trainers and ships’ forces to rapidly determine operational performance as well as training effectiveness, from individual console operators through Strike Group operations.
   
• AC02 Quality and Mission Assurance Assessment Provides Quality and Mission Assurance Assessment to identify, define, and implement cost effective, disciplined, and agile technical and management processes to assure the successful acquisition and fielding of defense systems. A critical capability provided is the government's independent and objective technical assessment of quality-related strategy, requirements, processes, and practices performed over the system’s life cycle to identify and mitigate design, production, test, and sustainment issues. This provides a context within which program managers can make informed decisions to assure the effective application of credible systems engineering, risk management, quality, logistics support, and technical management principles. A key component of this capability is the role of authoritative source and manager of quality-related data exchange systems. Research and expertise is also provided to develop top-level quality and mission assurance guidance, policy, and standards for the defense acquisition community including the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), military services, defense agencies, systems commands, program executive offices (PEOs), and program managers. 
   
• AC03 Metrology, Test, and Monitoring Systems Assessment Serve as the Navy’s metrology and calibration (METCAL) Program’s primary technical agent. Provide METCAL technical support for the Navy METCAL Executive Director, all Navy and Marine Corps acquisition program managers, and systems command METCAL program managers. Assess technical measurement requirements and capabilities for the Navy to ensure that metrology and calibration support is in place; that measurement technology keeps pace with advancements in combat systems, weapons, and test equipment technology; and that measurements are accurate and traceable to national standards. Develop, evaluate, approve, and implement test equipment calibration procedures, weapon system calibration support plans, and measurement standards for calibration laboratories. Serve as the Navy’s subject matter expert for calibration and metrology training. Establish and optimize calibration intervals for all Navy test equipment to ensure measurement reliability targets are met at the most efficient cost. Manage and provide technical oversight for the Navy and Marine Corps calibration laboratory audit and certification program. Perform research and development of new measurement standards to fill national measurement capability deficiencies that impact Navy weapon system development, testing, operation, and maintenance. Develop engineering prototypes for new measurement and calibration technologies. Coordinate Joint Service metrology initiatives and represent the Navy on the Joint Logistics Commander’s Joint Technical Coordination Group for Calibration and Measurement Technology to ensure that the maximum benefit of cooperative metrology efforts is achieved. Employ test and measurement engineering, diagnostics, quality, and process control disciplines to measure the capability of testing in support of development, production, and servicing of Navy weapon and combat systems. 
   
• AC04 Naval Surface & Air Range Systems Engineering Provides Naval surface and air range systems engineering and technology solutions for Naval and Joint training and testing, as assigned. Engineers, integrates, and installs instrumentation on test and training ranges, including shipboard systems and remote range areas. Provides information assurance certification and accreditation for systems installed, as well as performs laser safety certifications for ranges. Performs operational assessments of range instrumentation to determine effectiveness and suitability. At Fleet tactical training ranges, provides range systems engineering, maintenance, and operations to support Fleet training events. Ensures that existing and future range systems meet the Fleet's demand for combat realism, live mission monitoring and replay, and information and data collection for analysis and assessment. As such, delivers participant tracking, communication systems and networks, electronic warfare, information operations, weapons scoring, and various other range systems support for squadrons, air wings, carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups, amphibious readiness groups, composite training unit exercises, Joint task force exercises, and other large force exercises. Provides technical expertise for data collection, integration, and replay for Fleet training live, virtual, and constructive capabilities.
   
• AC05 Weapons Systems Interface Assessment Provides mechanical interface assessment services throughout the life cycle to assure interchangeability, interoperability, inspectability, and maintainability of weapon system, sub-system, and critical components. During pre-production phases support the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) lead to assure design tolerances allow for interchangeability, determine critical features, analyze component fit at assembly, and determine appropriate inspection methods. During production provide and certify Navy gages, evaluate contractor gages and methods of inspection, and evaluate the effect of design changes on interchangeability. In post-production phases continue evaluation of changes and support maintenance activities for gages to assure the integrity of interfaces. Perform special investigations on gage interface issues experienced by the Fleet. Special investigation tasks include analyzing the problem, determining root cause, developing a plan of action, and fielding corrective measures. Provide measurement support to a wide variety of customers in the Measurement Science and Technology Laboratory by measuring large geometries to accuracies of 90 millionths of an inch, and small linear objects to accuracies of 3 millionths of an inch. 
   
• AC06 Naval Systems Material Readiness Assessment Provides Readiness Assessment of in-service weapons, C5I systems, and hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) equipment as assigned, using consistent, government-approved criteria, processes, and methodologies. Calculates the authoritative measures of Navy material readiness. Develops and maintains the knowledge systems required to deliver these measures to Fleet, in-service support, and acquisition programs, along with the deep-dive analysis capability to determine readiness trends and drivers. Applies standard measures of readiness to gauge ship material condition and mission capability. Evaluates stockpile reliability and maintainability for surface missiles and performs special studies to verify or adjust missile certification periods. Performs diagnostic and predictive analyses to help identify and verify the efficacy of readiness-based improvements and corrective actions, for example in connection with maintenance procedures and training, parts sparing, logistics support plans, distance support, and tech-assist visits. 
   
• AC07 Strategic Systems Testing and Analysis, and Surveillance Assessment Provides scientific and engineering knowledge, expertise, and facilities for laboratory tests, quality evaluation, surveillance testing, and analyses of strategic weapon re-entry systems. Provides testing, data analyses, and assessments of materials for surveillance stockpile evaluation and reliability; weapon and component quality and reliability characteristics; detection of trends and evaluation of unusual characteristics; failure analyses; material degradation risks; and special studies. Conducts electrical, electronic, radio frequency, mechanical, material, chemical and non-destructive tests and evaluations on components during and after environmental conditioning from system deployment through system retirement. Provides assessment reports on reliability, stockpile retention, cost-effective maintenance, and disposal of suspect components or weapons. 
   
• AC08 Ground Combat Weapons and Ammunition Test, Evaluation, and Assessment Provides scientific and engineering knowledge, expertise, and facilities for quality evaluation, surveillance testing, and analyses of individual and crew-served ground combat weapons and Class V(W) ammunition, as assigned (excluding energetics material formulations). Provides testing, data analyses, and assessments for surveillance, stockpile evaluation, and reliability; quality and reliability characteristics; detection of trends and evaluation of unusual characteristics; failure analyses; material degradation risks; and special studies. Designs and conducts destructive and non-destructive operational and field test and evaluation from weapon development and deployment through retirement. Provides assessment reports on associated warfighting capability that addresses reliability, performance, stockpile retention, cost-effective maintenance, logistics, and disposal.