NSWC PCD Showcases Innovation at NavalX Gulf Coast Tech Bridge Experiment

NavalX Gulf Coast Tech Bridge recently hosted an extensive collaborative exercise involving over 45 participants from four key partner commands. These included the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), the Naval Research Lab (NRL) Stennis, the Naval Meteorological and Oceanography Command (CNMOC), and the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO). The initiative focused on accelerating technology development by integrating unmanned systems to gather and relay real-time environmental data to a shore station.

The exercise marked a significant advancement in subsea warfare capabilities. Holly Gardner, director of Strategic Engagement at NSWC PCD and figurehead of the NavalX Gulf Coast Tech Bridge, praised the experiment. She noted its importance in demonstrating new processes that transition quickly from identifying warfighter needs to leveraging innovative technologies and partnerships for rapid capability enhancement.

Initial integration tests smoothly transitioned to at-sea trials, where systems collected and processed data in real time. This operational focus highlighted the prowess of NSWC PCD in systems engineering and its leadership within the NavalX Gulf Coast Tech Bridge.

Erica Davis, Skylla Project lead at NSWC PCD, emphasized the value of the event: “Collaboration with experts maximized our outcomes. It wasn’t just about repetition but progress and integration,” she said, noting the benefits gained from direct team engagements.

The endeavor took almost a year of meticulous planning, starting with a workshop to create a collaborative vision for Gulf of Mexico use. Targeted capabilities were selected to meet undersea warfare mission objectives. Data collection and transmission to NAVO for further analysis were crucial components of the experiment, which serves as a precursor to the CNMOC’s Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) 2025 series.

Four Navy STEM students played active roles in this real-world mission scenario, gaining invaluable hands-on experience and exposure. This engagement underscores the Navy’s investment in fostering future STEM leaders and its commitment to cutting-edge technological advancements.

Rear Adm. Ron Piret, CNMOC Commander, commended the demonstration team, attributing their success to thorough planning and unwavering dedication. The team focused on technology validation across various test cases to prepare for the OCEANS In Action 2025 event, predicting fruitful and enjoyable future endeavors based on the impressive current achievements.

The experiment’s success also underscored the strategic significance of NSWC PCD’s location. Utilizing the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range, the largest military test range in the continental U.S., the exercise demonstrated the critical role of multi-domain subsea warfare operations in supporting the U.S. Navy.