Photo By Gary Ell | Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division hosts a Change of Command Ceremony...... read more read more
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Capt. Joseph Darcy relieved Capt. Dana Simon as the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division’s Commanding Officer during NSWCPD's Change of Command Ceremony in Philadelphia on March 10, 2023.
“It’s an honor to be here today in person with these two outstanding naval officers as they turn over the watch. In addition, we will wish Capt. Simon well as he begins the next chapter of his life following his retirement,” Naval Surface Warfare Center and Naval Undersea Warfare Center Commander Rear Adm. Byrne said while providing the ceremony’s guest remarks.
“I hope you’ve had a chance to review his biography because it’s a success story of someone who repeatedly achieved greatness throughout his career by committing himself to leadership, service, and dedication to duty,” Byrne continued.
Simon’s career was indeed a success story. The United States Military Academy graduate received a direct commission to the Navy Reserve as an engineering duty officer in 1999 and would go on to climb the military ranks in recognition of his talent and work ethic.
Some of his positions include Deputy Project Superintendent at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard; Maintenance Readiness and Improvements Officer at the Commander, Submarine Forces Atlantic (SUBLANT); Business & Strategic Planning Officer at Norfolk Naval Shipyard; and a tour in Iraq as an Individual Augmentee (IA) in 2009.
Simon guided NSWCPD through another era of growth and innovation since relieving Capt. Francis Spencer as commanding officer in May 2019.
Byrne highlighted some of Simon’s accomplishments and initiatives during his time in leadership with NSWCPD.
“To help create an inclusive environment that includes direct communication between leadership and the workforce, Dana championed the ‘Many Voices’ program, which kicked off in April 2021. The effort includes groups of Philadelphia employees meeting for 90 minutes each month, engaging in lively exchanges about often difficult subjects,” Byrne said.
He added, “To help encourage collaboration with cutting-edge industry leaders, the Liberty Tech Bridge was established under Dana’s watch as the latest addition to NavalX’s Tech Bridge community - a program designed to bring together regional government, industry, and academia to expand a regional ecosystem focused on innovation.”
Simon graciously gave his farewell message in front of the NSWCPD community and others.
“During my four years here in Philly, we’ve done countless amazing things. I’ll confess, I probably didn’t see or hear about a good portion of the great stuff we do. That’s really a testament to your ingenuity and motivation to support the Fleet. You just make it happen. You’ve built a reputation for excellence and the Fleet definitely understands the critical role you play…I’d love to stand here and describe the good things we’ve done over the past four years, but we would be here all day,” Simon said.
Simon leaves NSWCPD in competent hands with Darcy now taking the lead.
Darcy’s most recent position was the Technical Director for Surface Ship Design and Systems Engineering, Naval Sea Systems Command Engineering and Logistics Directorate (SEA 05). The United States Naval Academy graduate’s resume includes First Lieutenant aboard USS Fitzgerald and Project Officer for Combatant Repair at SUPSHIP, Puget Sound. Darcy also served as an IA in Afghanistan.
He gave his remarks during the ceremony with his family in attendance as they were formally welcomed into the NSWCPD community.
“It sometimes may seem like we here at NSWCPD are half a world away from protecting and defending our nation and the constitution. But my friends, we aren’t half a world away, not miles, not yards, not inches away, but rather the tab space on the code that we maintain, the width of a period on the manuals we write, the millimeter thin distance of the labyrinth seals of the seam driven pumps that we oversee,” Darcy said. “That’s how far we from the defense of all we believe. Defend that space, make it impenetrable.”
Byrne closed his speech with a vote of confidence for Darcy.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome you and your family to the Warfare Center family. Our success as an organization, from the ‘Big Navy’ on down, is strongly linked with the quality of our leader, their character, resolve, and wisdom. I am confident that you will continue the tradition of excellence you established throughout your career right here in Philadelphia,” Byrne said.
NSWCPD employs approximately 2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The NSWCPD team does the research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear machinery, ship machinery systems, and related equipment and material for Navy surface ships and submarines. NSWCPD is also the lead organization providing cybersecurity for all ship systems.
| Date Taken: | 03.10.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 03.10.2023 14:09 |
| Story ID: | 440159 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 641 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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