SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sailors from Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) participated in the Big E festival during the inaugural Hartford-Springfield Navy Week portion of the event on Sept. 25.
Navy Week volunteers set up booths near the main entertainment stage to engage with visitors and showcase the various missions and capabilities of local Navy commands. Among these Sailors were NSMRL Navy Divers 1st Class John Ahnen, Grace Palmieri, Nathan Helbing, and Connor Houtchens, who volunteered to represent NSMRL and Navy Diving to all Big E attendees, splitting the 12-hour day into two shifts.
“It’s really great to be out here, representing NSMRL and Navy diving to all these different people who probably don’t...
11.21.2025 | SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
Story by Emily Swedlund
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sailors from Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) participated in the Big E festival during the inaugural Hartford-Springfield Navy Week portion of the event on Sept. 25.
Navy Week volunteers set up booths near the main entertainment stage to engage with visitors and showcase the various missions and capabilities of local Navy commands. Among these Sailors were NSMRL Navy Divers 1st Class John Ahnen, Grace Palmieri, Nathan Helbing, and Connor Houtchens, who volunteered to represent NSMRL and Navy Diving to all Big E attendees, splitting the 12-hour day into two shifts.
“It’s really great to be out here, representing NSMRL and Navy diving to all these different people who probably don’t...
11.21.2025 | SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
Story by Emily Swedlund
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Sept. 25, 2025). Navy Diver 1st Class Connor Houtchens, of Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL), poses with a Big E fair attendee during the Hartford/Springfield Navy Week event. NSMRL, part of Navy Medicine Research & Development and based out of Groton, Connecticut, sustains the readiness and superiority of U.S. undersea warfighters through innovative health and performance research and works to lead the world in delivering science solutions to ensure undersea warrior dominance. For 250 years, Navy Medicine, represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian healthcare professionals, has delivered quality healthcare and enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea and ashore. (U.S. Navy photo by Emily Swedlund /Released)
