As a Department of Defense (DoD) Energetics Center, Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (IHDIV, NSWC) is a critical component of the Warfare Center (WC) Enterprise. It is our mission to research, develop, test, evaluate, and produce energetics and energetic systems for our fighting forces around the globe.

What are Energetics? Energetics are explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, reactive materials, related chemicals and fuels and their application in propulsion systems and ordnance.

As the largest DoD full spectrum energetics facility and leader in the Navy's energetic enterprise, IHDIV employs a workforce of over 1270, of which more than 630 are scientists, engineers and technicians dedicated to every aspect of developing and sustaining explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, high energy chemicals and their application into war fighting systems. In addition, IHDIV has the largest concentration of PhDs (51) working in Energetics in the WC including the highest number of “rocket scientists,“ e.g., synthesis chemists, detonation physicists, and formulation scientists, dedicated to the energetics national competency.

The Division's unique synergy and balanced capabilities address all aspects of the energetics technical discipline including basic research, applied technology, technology demonstration, prototyping, engineering development, acquisition, low rate production, in-service engineering⁄ mishaps and failure investigations, surveillance and demilitarization.

If the military experiences problems with current weapon systems, or encounter new threats on the battlefield, IHDIV collaborates and provides the appropriate solution to answer the call. As the Navy's lead technical authority in the U.S., IHDIV performs over 60% of all Navy energetics workload, and has an unmatched record of 16 Navy-qualified explosives transitioned into 50 Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps weapons. Since 1985, 70% of all explosives deployed in US weapons were developed by IHDIV.

IHDIV's unique cradle-to-grave energetics capabilities support rapid response solutions for our warfighters. Examples include:

-IHDIV's CAD⁄PAD Joint Program Office, which provides unified life-cycle management of cartridge actuated and propellant actuated devices for the joint services. They employ ‘‘Best Practices” to improve resource management, contracting, facilities, training, and streamline science and technology.

-IHDIV is the nation's only design and development agent for underwater warheads and explosives.

-IHDIV is designated as the Navy's Manufacturing Technology Center for Energetics.

-IHDIV is the free world's sole provider of OTTO Fuel II for both domestic and foreign torpedoes.

-IHDIV's explosive modeling experts have jointly developed high fidelity underwater hydrocodes (DYSMAS) with German researchers, providing the Navy a capability to accurately predict underwater explosive performance and effects for a wide variety of lethality and vulnerability applications. Extensions of DYSMAS are now used to help improve future ship hull designs.

Recent technological advancements in energetic materials have yielded development of a novel method to explosively generate plasmas with applications against a variety of hardened target breaching. The Division is also pioneering nano-energetic material R&D efforts leading to a complete change in the future direction of energetic materials, components, and systems, providing the capability to support the development of smaller yet higher performing, greater precision, combat safe insensitive, “dial-a-yield“ weapons in the not too distant future.

IHDIV executes this world-class energetic system engineering in unique facilities including unmatched chemical scale-up labs, the country's only energetic-certified MEMS development lab, next generation twin-screw extrusion processing systems and the largest set of detonation science “bomb-proofs“ in the free-world.

The IHDIV's full-spectrum expertise, facilities, and system engineering know-how allows for energetics to be sustained as a National Competency. This exceptional capability to synergize across the organization - from basic research and engineering, to test, evaluation and full-scale manufacturing - provides the Navy and nation a one-of-a-kind core capability unmatched anywhere in the U.S., addressing current and future warfighting needs.

The success and achievements of IHDIV are attributable to a combination of state-of-the-art facilities, sustained investment in science and technology by the DoD, and most importantly, the employee population, an exceptional assembly of tremendously talented, dedicated and innovative people.

As a successful and vibrant technical institution, we come to work each day giving our very best so that our service men and women can do their jobs, defend our American freedoms, and come home safely to their families.

Highlights and Honors

DYSMAS Transitions to the Fleet
Personnel from IHDIV's Energetics Department continue to develop, validate, and deliver the DYSMAS modeling and simulation tool for underwater explosion effects. Developed jointly with the German Ministry of Defense under two international project agreements from 1995-2007, the DYSMAS code has achieved international recognition as the premier tool for underwater explosion effects analysis, culminating with the full-scale testing and validation effort using the decommissioned German destroyer, the ex-L¸tjens. At IHDIV, DYSMAS plays a major role in the development of advanced undersea warhead concepts for use in the Common Very Lightweight Torpedo (CVLWT) and other potential future undersea weapons. In conjunction with NSWC Carderock Division (CD), IHDIV is actively involved in the Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) of DYSMAS for several major ship acquisition programs. The collaboration with NSWCCD engineers working on U.S. ship survivability programs ensures that the DYSMAS code can positively impact aspects of the ship design and vulnerability assessment process. Looking outside the Navy, several groups working on the vulnerability of critical national infrastructure are using DYSMAS to assess vulnerability to explosion effects and to design protection concepts. Overall, the expertise in underwater explosion phenomenology and the development of advanced modeling and simulation tools has put IHDIV at the national forefront in this area. The credibility of the DYSMAS code has been established, as evidenced by the wide user base both within and outside the Navy, and by the efforts by major acquisition programs to formally accredit the tool as part of their design process

Impacting the Global War on Terror
IHDIV continues to impact the Global War on Terror (GWOT) through production of energetic products and through applying our detailed understanding of energetic design, manufacturing and system information. This year we responded to many energetic product needs by engineering and fabricating specialty items such as Shoulder Mounted Assault Weapons, Anti-Structural Munition Grenades, and Land Attack Warfare Systems. Working with the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) and the Intelligence communities, IHDIV experts performed analysis and investigations of suspect items found in theater, which allowed for a better understanding of tactics and products used by enemy forces.

Making use of our expertise in energetic materials, IHDIV has embarked on a program of assisting the Department of Homeland Security in their mission to protect against the threat of homemade explosives. Chemists, formulators, test engineers and modelers all contribute to the effort to characterize and detect homemade explosives. In addition, IHDIV serves as a “trusted agent“ to DHS concerning the other government and industry players on their team.

CAD⁄PAD TEAM Supports the Warfighter
In 2007, a Parachute Deployment Rocket Motor (PDRM) installed in an F-18 aircraft self-actuated due to direct and constant high heat exposure of its propellant grain. This incident resulted in an engineering investigation, Fleet-wide verification procedures, and a reduction in the PDRM's service life. The CAD⁄PAD team provided efficient and expedient Fleet support by conducting an investigation which resulted in identifying safe working, storage, and transport conditions. The team, which included members from across IHDIV, reworked over 500 in-stock and Fleet returned assets in less than 60 days to provide replacement PDRM's to the Fleet. The CAD⁄PAD team's quick response averted grounding of F-18 and T-45 aircraft.

Optimizing New Energetic Material for the Warfighter
Through the application of state-of-the-art technologies and process improvements, IHDIV scientists have continued to make significant progress in the evolution of new energetic material scale-up. Using scientific principles and real time analytical tools to modernize the scale up process, IHDIV provides a capability which allows scientists to find and manufacture the right material for energetic formulations while providing outstanding and reliable products to the warfighter. IHDIV's expertise in scale-up includes optimizing energetic material for Advanced Gun Propellants used in the MK 45, 5 inch, 62 caliber gun.

IHDIV Reduces Costs Through Continuous Process Improvement Efforts
IHDIV has made great strides in its continuing efforts to foster a culture of continuous improvement, known as ‘‘Lean,” at its site and throughout other parts of the Navy community. Training has been provided to over one hundred and fifty (150) people at IHDIV as well as other commands. As of FY07, the total net cost reductions from continuous improvement have reached $70 Million. This financial benefit is a reflection of efficiency improvements at IHDIV and with the external customers. Reinvesting these reductions back to the warfighter is the ultimate goal as we continually strive to support our fighting forces.

Current achievements in Lean initiatives include ongoing improvements in the CAD⁄PAD Team Streamlining Deckplate Processes. The CAD⁄PAD Team is successfully applying Lean techniques to streamline deckplate processes related to delivery and disposition of their critical energetic products. In 13 months, the team visited and conducted direct ship lean events on 32 bases. The direct ship approach saves an average of six hours with each shipment, with over 3,000 such shipments annually. The team is moving to the next priority - automating squadron inventory management and the return process of used products, projects with even greater potential for reductions in deckplate labor.

IHDIV Partners with the Community in Bringing Science and Engineering to Our Youth
IHDIV employees continually support local kids through camps and science fair judging. In 2007, IHDIV supported two summer youth camps in the local community: the Engineering and Robotic Challenge Camp held at CSM, La Plata, MD and the Patriots Camp in Capitol Heights, MD, in an effort to spark the minds of young teenagers to consider a future career in science or engineering. The camps include such activities as robotic, rocketry, and engineering challenges. These camps follow the highly prestigious N-STAR (Naval Research: Science and Technology for America's Readiness) model, a program launched by the Office of Naval Research and Department of the Navy dedicated to helping draw the nation's brightest scientists, engineers and technology professionals into the Naval workforce.

Thirty-nine IHDIV employees also volunteered to support the Charles County Science Fair, in addition to numerous other IHDIV employees who supported individual school's Science Fairs within the County.

Team America Rocketry Challenge National Finals were held in Virginia in May 2007. This competition is one of the largest model rocket showcases in the world, where IHDIV scientists and engineers had the opportunity to peak the scientific curiosity of young students.

Workforce Development Strategy
To ensure a highly skilled workforce now, and into the future, the IHDIV has developed a robust succession-planning program to support continued viability within DOD. By recruiting, developing, and retaining our workforce, we will ensure the sustainment of energetics for the Navy and the nation.

As IHDIV strives to build upon its reputation as the Energetics leader for DOD, we must ensure we maintain and build our in-house energetics knowledge base. Through the support of NAVSEA and collaboration with the Warfare Centers, IHDIV continues to aggressively recruit scientists and engineers from across the United States. This consistent infusion of new talent will enable the IHDIV to remain the DOD Energetics Center well into the 21st century.

IHDIV has a comprehensive, requirements-based workforce development needs assessment and career development guides which identify workforce development, training, and education needs within particular technical capabilities and knowledge areas. To fulfill and support these identified training and educational needs IHDIV has active collaborations with academia such as the Partnership with the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), and the research agreement with the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland College Park. IHDIV also has active collaborations among the Warfare Center Divisions through the Warfare Centers Workforce Council.

IHDIV - College of Southern Maryland Partnership
IHDIV and CSM have enjoyed a robust relationship for over forty years. The Partnership focuses on defining and assessing IHDIV current and future workforce development needs; developing and executing comprehensive workforce development training and education; and ensuring that a pool of qualified local applicants exits to meet future workforce needs in all career fields with special emphasis on science and engineering. Through this Partnership, several pipeline initiatives focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are in the works involving the Charles County Public School System and University of Maryland Baltimore Campus.

The Corporate Center at CSM provides IHDIV the means to offer numerous professional development programs in specific technical areas as well as in leadership, project management, computer skills, and general development.

NAVSEA Warfare Centers Workforce Council
The NAVSEA Warfare Centers Workforce Council provides support and expertise to achieve the vision of a world-class workforce. With active members from all the NAVSEA Warfare Center Divisions, the Workforce Council works to ensure common workforce strategies across the Warfare Centers and to maximize utilization of resources.

Center for Energetic Concepts Development with the University of Maryland, College Park
For over nine years, the Center for Energetic Concepts Development (CECD) - a collaborative partnership between the IHDIV and the University of Maryland at College Park (UMCP) A. James Clark School of Engineering, continues to be model resource for continuing advancement in energetics manufacturing, science, and research, while educating the next generation of energetics experts. Through FY07, over $8 million in project funding has been sent to UMCP while IHDIV personnel have earned seven Master's degrees and two PhD's, and taken over 300 graduate courses. During FY07 the agreement supported eight graduate students for a total of 48 semester hours.