NAVSEA Engineers Selected for Engineer of the Year Awards

By NAVSEA Office of Corporate Communications

The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) announced the selection of D. Mark Johnson, Director, Force Electromagnetic Environmental Effects and Spectrum Management Engineering Branch as the U.S. Navy, Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) Engineer of the Year and the NAVSEA candidate for the 2008 Federal Engineer of the Year Award. Thomas Choinski of the Naval Sea Undersea Warfare Center Division (NUWC), Newport Division was also named as a Top Ten finalist by NSPE.

“This award is an overwhelming honor. In effect, I view it as validating the hard work of our field activities and contractor partners, and an admirable reflection of the value NAVSEA leadership places on its people.” said Johnson.

Johnson is the head of the NAVSEA Force Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) and Spectrum Management Branch as well as the E3 Technical Warrant Holder for all U.S. Navy ships, submarines, and shore stations. In this capacity, Mr. Johnson is the Navy’s Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Radiation Hazards (RADHAZ) Certification Authority, the Shipboard Electromagnetic Compatibility Improvement Program (SEMCIP) Manager and the primary development agent (PDA) for Navy EMI Control Training. E3 and spectrum issues impact virtually every Navy acquisition program as well as all Fleet and Shore activities. SEMCIP is the fleet program responsible for EMI investigation, quantification of operational impacts, and development/implementation of corrective measures. As the SEMCIP Program Manager, Johnson is pivotal to the process of EMI resolution throughout the Fleet. Furthermore, Johnson has been the guiding force for E3 Upfront Engineering of new platforms and new system installations. This process ensures that EMI “Lessons Learned” are proactively incorporated into the design, development, procurement and installation of new systems. Ultimately, the ability of fleet and shore commands to successfully perform their missions without degradation due to EMI is a direct result of Johnson’s tireless dedication and superior leadership of a technical pyramid of E3/Spectrum experts from across NAVSEA’s field activities and contractor partners.

“It has also been gratifying to engage with Fleet stakeholders to take on operational Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) /Spectrum challenges,” said Johnson. “I deeply appreciate the NAVSEA leadership's continuing support as we champion E3/Spectrum challenges and for supporting my selection as Engineer of the Year. It is my honor to be a part of the NAVSEA team.” Choinski, who is Head of the Emergent and Transformational Systems Division of the Sensors and Sonar Systems Department, is leading the development of novel antisubmarine weapons systems for the Navy. He supervises engineers and scientists in the development of the Spartan Unmanned Surface Vehicle military utility assessment, rapid prototyping and at-sea experimentation for non-traditional antisubmarine warfare prototypes, and other emerging products. As a respected leader in the Navy undersea community, he is widely known as an innovator and researcher, having authored more than 30 papers. In addition, Choinski has actively collaborated to form educational partnerships with local high schools to establish an internship program at NUWC Division Newport. Johnson and Choinski, along with the other respective agency winners, will be honored at the Federal Engineer of the Year Awards ceremony to be held at the National Press Club on Feb. 21. The final selection of the 2008 Federal Engineer of the Year will also be announced at this event.