Southpotpilot102513

SOUTH POTOMAC PILOTSOUTH POTOMAC PILOTOctober 25, 2013

NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUTH POTOMAC DEFENSE COMMUNITY

Link directly to theNSASP Facebookpage on yoursmart phone

INSIDE:

DahlgrenSchool AlumsReunitePage 3

PRESORTSTD

USPOSTAGE

PAID

SO.MD.

NEWSPAPERS

PERMIT#1

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS FOR MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES E-mail [email protected] or Call (540) 653-8153

By Andrew RevelosStaff Writer

Members of the Dahlgrencommunity gathered Oct. 16 atthe University of Mary Wash-ington Dahlgren Campus tocelebrate the installation’s 95thanniversary. The festive occa-sion, sponsored by the DahlgrenHeritage Foundation, broughttogether service members, com-munity leaders and employeespast andpresent.

“Thank you so much for be-ing here for this very special oc-casion, the commemorative cel-ebration of the 95th anniversaryof the Navy base now known asNavalSupportFacilityDahlgren,”said Ed Jones, president of theDahlgren Heritage Foundation,welcoming attendees.

Jones updated the audienceabout the Dahlgren HeritageFoundation’s progress in estab-lishing amuseum,whichopenedOct. 19. “It’s an exciting time totalk about the story ofDahlgren,”he said. “I like to tell people thatthe only thing that’s more excit-ing than Dahlgren’s history, isDahlgren’s future, because withthe development of multiple

commands on the base, it seemsthat more than ever, this centerof research, innovation, testing,trainingandsupport for thewarf-ighter, ismoreandmoreessentialfor this nation.”

Dahlgren was a remotepiece of marshland in rural KingGeorge County before the Navyfired its first test shot at the newbase in the fall of 1918. Thoughthe nature of the work at Dahl-gren has evolved during its morethan nine decades of existence,thebase continues tobe called “acrown jewel of national defense,”said Jones.

Marines supervised by NavyLt. Cmdr. H.K. Lewis fired thatfirst shot from a tractor-mount-ed, 7-inch, 45-caliber naval gun,hurling a 153-pound projectile24,000 yards down the Potomac.The restored gun was on displaythis week at Dahlgren’s paradefield.

Jones mused about the ef-fect of that thunderous first shoton local wildlife, which has sincegrown used to the noise. “Thatmust have been pretty jarring.But you know, in the next nineand a half decades, there were alot of booms. I grew up on basein the 1950s and that was major

boom time, letme tell you.”Before Dahlgren could fall

into its rhythm of methodicalresearch, development, trainingand evaluation, it suffered froma few growing pains, said Jones.One of the early issues faced bytheNavy was what to call its newtest range. “Therewereanumberof finalists for that. Were it notfor that final decision, wemay betalking about not Dahlgren, Vir-ginia, but Stockton, Virginia, orDaschle,Virginia,ormaybeAlger,Virginia. Boy, Dahlgren soundsbetter andbetter, doesn’t it?”

Capt. Pete Nette, command-ing officer of Naval Support Ac-tivity SouthPotomac, praised theDahlgren Heritage Foundationfor making the celebration pos-sible and the thanked Universityof Mary Washington DahlgrenCampus for hosting the event.

“By any measure, 95 years isa long time,” said Nette. “It’s amilestone worthy of celebratingin itself, an exceptional achieve-ment.”

Nette said the work of theDahlgren History Project, part oftheNaval SurfaceWarfareCenter

Dahlgren Division, together withthe privately-funded DahlgrenHeritage Foundation, have donea great job telling Dahlgren’sstory. “As a result of these efforts,we have a new realm of oppor-tunity to highlight the importantlegacy representedbyDahlgren,”he said. “It’s remarkable that allthese developments have coin-cided with the base’s 95th anni-versary, just shy of its centennialfive years fromnow.”

The success of the basethrough the decades would nothave been possible without thesupport of the communities thatsurroundit, saidNette. “Thedeepconnections between the Dahl-gren base and this communityrepresentan invaluableasset thatwe in the military should nevertake for granted.”

The leader of Dahlgren’slargest tenant command sharedsome behind-the scenes insightabout theeffort tonamethebase.“It’s thepolicyof theDepartmentof Defense to name a provinggroundafter thegeographic loca-tion it goes in, not to name it af-ter a person,” said Capt. MichaelSmith, commanding officer of

Dahlgren Day: Celebrating 95 years of innovation

U.S. Navy photo by Andrew Revelos

Del. Margaret Ransone, left, and state Sen. Rich-ard Stuart, right, present Capt. Pete Nette, center,commanding officer of Naval Support ActivitySouth Potomac, with Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proc-lamation declaring Oct. 16, 2013 Dahlgren Day.


Community and militaryleaders joined members ofthe Dahlgren Heritage Boardon Oct. 16 to cut the ribbonand open the long-awaitedDahlgren Heritage Museum.The ribbon-cutting markedthe end of a three-year ef-fort organized by the board-supported by King GeorgeCounty and the base-to es-tablish a museum to tell thestory of Dahlgren.

The museum is locatedon the site formerly occu-pied by the Virginia Wel-come Center and featuresexhibits detailing the ac-complishments of Dahl-gren’s scientists, engineersand Sailors in the installa-tion’s more than nine de-cades of service. Bannerspresented those achieve-ments by decade alongsidehistoric items, such as theshells of naval guns.

Capt. Pete Nette, com-manding officer of NavalSupport Activity SouthPotomac, said he enjoyedworking with communityleaders and was pleased tosee the project come to frui-tion.

Dale Sisson, chairman-at-large of the King GeorgeCounty Board of Supervi-sors and an employee atDahlgren, praised the effort.“This is a great day and a

great facility,” he said. “It’scome a long way since it wasa visitor center.”

Sisson hoped the mu-seum would bring morevisibility to Dahlgren’s his-

toric role supporting thenational defense. “One ofthe things I think is so im-portant about this facility,is that it reminds us of thecontributions that go on just

across [Route] 301,” he said.“Those 95 years of historyare just outstanding. In myday job, I get to lead one ofour technical departmentsfor the Naval Surface War-fare Center {Dahlgren Divi-sion}. I look forward to see-ing the great work that ourscientists and engineers aredoing today giving you thenext row of banners, not justfor us here locally, but as areminder nationally of thecontributions of Dahlgren.”

Ruby Brabo, memberof the King George CountyBoard of Supervisors forDahlgren, seconded Sis-son’s praise. “I’ve been soimpressed with all the workeverybody has done to putthis together, to make thisvision a reality,” she said.

An avowed history buff,Brabo hoped the museumwould help bring more tour-ism to the area. “Tourism isa $21 billion industry here inVirginia, so I look forward toKing George County finallycapitalizing on [this],” shesaid.

Ed Jones, president ofthe privately-funded Dahl-gren Heritage Foundation,

Dahlgren History and Heritage Museum opens doors


From left to right, Capt. Pete Nette, commanding officer of Naval SupportActivity South Potomac, Ruby Brabo, member of the King George CountyBoard of Supervisors for Dahlgren, Ed Jones, president of the DahlgrenHeritage Foundation, Robert Gates, vice president of the Dahlgren Heri-tage Foundation, John LoBuglio, vice chairman of the King George CountyBoard of Supervisors, and Dale Sisson, chairman-at-large of the KingGeorge County Board of Supervisors, cut the ribbon opening the DahlgrenHeritage Museum on Oct. 19.

See Museum, Page 3

See Innovation, Page 8

2 Friday, October 25, 2013The South Potomac Pilot

The leaves turning colors and a chill in the air meant it wastime for the NSF Dahlgren Morale, Welfare and Recreation(MWR) Annual Harvest Pumpkin festival last Thursday on theParade Field. Approximately 500 children and their parentsparticipated in the fun, family oriented evening. Children wereable to pick their favorite pumpkin and decorate it, there was

facepainting, harvest crafts, gamesandmusic, pony rides, dunktank, football toss and thehighlight of the evening, the costumecontest. This year’s costume contest judges were Captain PeteNette, Commanding Officer of NSA South Potomac, his wifePauline and NSA South Potomac Command Master Chief’swife EvelynHonea.MWRprovided awide range of other activi-ties that also included the bubble gumcontest, guess the candycorn in the jar, and the hot pumpkin toss. This brought out thecompetitive spirit in a family friendly atmosphere. Prizes wereawardedby age groups, but everyonewas awinner and funwashad by all. The evening would not have been a success withoutthe gracious support of the NSWC Federal Credit Union, USO,NSF Dahlgren Subway and the NSF Dahlgren Navy Exchange.Special thanks to the King George Wal-Mart who provided thepumpkins for the event. The MWR department wishes to ex-tend its appreciation to all of the members of our military andcivilian community for coming out to support the event for thechildren’s enjoyment.

NSF Dahlgren Pumpkin Harvest Festival

By Andrew RevelosStaff Reporter

Aegis Training and Readi-ness Center (ATRC) brokeground on the Cruiser/De-stroyer Upgrade Training Fa-cility on Oct. 18 during a cer-emony outside the school-house located onboardNavalSupport Facility Dahlgren.

The ceremony markedthe official beginning ofconstruction for MilitaryConstruction Project P-290,a new 27,051-square-footexpansion to ATRC that willprovide critical infrastruc-ture to train the future Sur-face Force. The constructioncontract was awarded for$12.495 million to John C.Grimberg Company, Inc. onAug. 19.

The project is scheduledto be completed by March2015 and will contain labo-ratories, classrooms, offices,meeting spaces and an audi-torium.

The two-story additionwill be a LEED Silver certifiedfacility. Leadership in Energyand Environmental Design(LEED) is an internationallyrecognized building certifi-cation that verifies buildingsand communities construct-ed for environmental bene-fit. It judges buildings basedon energy efficiency, waterusage and materials used.

“The last addition to ourtraining facility was in 1999,Huchting Hall,” said Capt.Ian Hall, ATRC’s command-ing officer. “Aegis ships con-tinue to be built and with theestablishment of the Cruiser/Destroyer ModernizationProgram, the average num-ber of classes held at ATRCwill continue to increase.

“This wing will providethe additional space re-quired for the upgradedbaseline equipment sets andclassrooms needed to trainour Sailors for the life of theAegis program,” Hall said.

At ATRC, nearly 650 en-listed Fire Controlmen and550 officers graduate annu-ally. Electronic classrooms,electronic technicalmanuals,and long-range connectivityallow for continued expan-sion of the quantity and qual-ity of training to meet grow-ing training requirements.

ATRC’s ongoing effortsinclude examining newtechnologies and trainingmethods for innovative, lesscostly ways to train to meetnew challenges and needs ofthe U.S. Navy.

Those needs continue togrow as the Navy modernizesits destroyer and cruiser fleet.There are currentlymore than100 Aegis-equipped ships inservice with the U.S. and al-lied navies. “We need greater

space as we maintain theships we’ve got and the shipswe bring into the fleet,” saidHall. “We need more spaceto train our young enlistedpersonnel and our officershere and effectively executethe nation’s missions. That’swhat we’re here to celebrate.That’s why we’re expandingATRC; it will give us addi-tional capacity to handle ourfleet’s needs.”

Hall praised the effortthat moved the project for-ward at a timewhen theNavyand the nation are operatingon tight budgets. “I wantto thank everyone who wasworking behind the scenes,”he said.

Capt. Tony Edmunds,commanding officer of NavalFacilities Engineering Com-mand Washington, said hiscommand would work to en-sure ATRC has the facility isneeds despite ongoing bud-gets uncertainty. “There isno doubt that only the mostimportant requirementshave survived,” he said. “Thisproject would not be goingforward if it were not as im-portant and as critical as itclearly is.”

Though many militaryconstruction projects involveoutside architects, the Cruis-er/Destroyer Upgrade Train-ing Facility was designed bythe Navy. “We actually did

this design in-house with ourown engineers at NAVFACAtlantic down in Norfolk,”said Edmunds. “This is anin-house, tried and trueNavydesign for this facility.”

Edmunds emphasized theimportance of safety, quality,timeliness and cost controlas the construction phase

begins and said the Navy hada “great partner” in John C.Grimberg Company, Inc.

Pete Grimberg, presidentof John C. Grimberg Com-pany Inc., said his companywould focus on safety, sched-ule and satisfaction. Thoughunforeseen complicationsare a part of every major con-

struction project, he contin-ued, Grimberg would “reactand lead the way in solvingissues.”

“We want to be proudof a high-quality finishedproduct,” said Grimberg.“We want to build a facilitythat meets and exceeds ex-pectations.”

Ground broken on Cruiser/Destroyer Training Facility


From left to right, Skip Wichert, construction manager for Naval Facilities andEngineering Command Washington, Lt. Cmdr. Jake Segalla, director of facil-ity engineering and acquisition division for NAVFACWASH, Cmdr. Elvis Mikel,executive officer of Naval Support Activity South Potomac, Pete Grimberg,president of John C. Grimberg Company, Inc., Capt. Ian Hall, commanding of-ficer of the Aegis Training and Readiness Center, Capt. Tony Edmunds, com-manding officer of NAVFACWASH, and Capt. Donald Schmieley, commandingofficer of the Center for Surface Combat Systems, break ground on MilitaryConstruction Project P-290 at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren on Oct. 18.

Friday, October 25, 2013 3The South Potomac Pilot

CARPOOL/VANPOOL WANTED

Riders Needed for Vanpool from commuterlot at the corner of Houser Dr. and Rt. 208 inSpotsylvania. Depart 6 a.m., arrive on base7 a.m. Depart base at 4 p.m. Mon. - Thurs.,3 p.m. on Fri. Drops at both sides of thebase. Contact Nick Sunshine, 540-653-3816.

Rider wanted for 7-passenger vanpool.Departs F’burg/Gordon Rd Commuter lotat 7AM. Departs NSWCDD/Dahlgren at4:30PM. Transportation Incentive ProgramSystem (TIPS) qualified van. Contact An-tonio at (540) 653-1512

Rider seeks rideshare from La Plata to In-dian Head. Call Louie, 276-971-9837

Employee moving to either Fredericks-burg, Va. or Maryland is in need of com-mute to NSF Dahlgren. Ideal commutingarrangement would be transportation thatcould pick-up and drop-off at or close toplace of residence. Please call for moreinformation, Sheila 214-529-3690.

Starting a Van Pool, 7-passenger van,departs NLT at 6:35 a.m. from Fieldhouse/Courthouse Rd. commuter lot to Dahlgren,Mon-Thurs 7:15 a.m. to 3:45p.m.; Friday7:15 a.m. to 3:15p.m. Call Cheng at 540-653-5909. A-Gate commuter wanted only.

Van/carpool desired from any rideshareparking area or Reston Town Center.Depart between 6 to 7a.m., return fromIndian Head between 4 to 5 p.m. Call Mo-ses, 301-743-4180.

Van or Car pool desired from Freder-icksburg or King George to Indian Head,Monday thru Friday with one RDO, prefer7a.m. to 4:30p.m., but hours can be nego-tiated. 703-909-3380.

Want to start a carpool? Need riders?

“Commuter Clearinghouse” is a source forinformation on carpools or vanpools thatalready exist and need passengers, aswell as a place for employees to advertiseto start a carpool or vanpool. Whether youalready operate a carpool or vanpool andare open to accepting new riders or needdrivers, or if you are looking for a carpoolor vanpool, provide us with information thatmight help you find or start a commuter op-portunity, such as, where you will need tocommute from and to, preferred scheduleand contact information. You can send yourinformation via e-mail to [email protected] or contact our office toll free at866-359-5540, or DSN 249-8153, or 540-653-8153.

FREDERICKSBURG RIDESHARING

GWRideConnect is a free ridesharing ser-vice that assists persons who are seekingdaily transportation from Fredericksburg,Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and KingGeorge counties to employment locationsin Dahlgren among other employment sites.www.gwregion.org/gwride connect.html.

thanked a long list of people for theircontributions to the project. Jones calledthe museum “a dream come true” whenthe site was unveiled to Dahlgren Schoolalumni before the ribbon-cutting.

Sadly, one person who was part of theeffort to establish the museum was notpresent. Ruth Herrink, publisher of theKing George Journal and a supporter ofthe museum, passed away a week beforeit opened. “She has been with us sinceday one,” said Jones. “We’re so sorry shecouldn’t be here for this. It was some-thing she worked on for so long.”

Jones offered special recognition for a

Dahlgren School alumnus whose familytreasures are no on display at the mu-seum. “One of our alums deserves spe-cial thanks and that is my friend CarltonMiddlebrook, from Dahlgren School,who has loaned us two very importantartifacts,” he said.

Those two historic items on display atthe museum-a Norden bombsight andN-9 seaplane propeller-were graciouslyloaned by Middlebrook, son of legend-ary Dahlgren avionics mechanic CharlesMiddlebrook.

The elder Middlebrook was trainedby Carl Norden and inspected the bomb-sights bearing his name as they weredelivered to the Navy, from the 1930sthrough World War 2.

The seaplane propeller was part of alesser known aspect of Dahlgren history.On Sept. 15, 1924, the Naval Research

Laboratory conducted the first radio-controlled, pilotless flight from the in-stallation, the first in the United States.The N9 seaplane was fitted with gyro-actuated automatic controls adjusted byCharles Middlebrook.

Though that first pilotless flight last-ed less than 15 minutes, the experimentmarked the first milestone on a techno-logical path that eventually led to today’sunmanned aerial vehicles.

Jones said the museum has more ex-hibits in store for the public in the future.“We going to be building this museum inthe months and years ahead,” he said.“It’s going to be a great space to have[science and technology] programs. Wealso want to tell the story of the commu-nity at Dahlgren-the school and the resi-dential areas.”


Alumni of Dahlgren School traveledfrom around the country for a reunion andtour of the base on Oct. 19. The day be-gan with hugs and handshakes as formerclassmates gathered at Dahlgren Schooland caught up with each other. The groupgot a sneak peak at the Dahlgren HeritageMuseum hours before its official openingand later enjoyed lunch at Gray’s Landingon the Potomac.

The reunion brought together severalgenerationsof former students, somewhomwent to Dahlgren School before its currentfacility was built duringWorldWar 2.

Carlton Griffin’s Dahlgren School washoused in what is today the Chapel Annex.The King George County resident “gradu-ated” in 1940, when he and other highschool students at Dahlgren School beganattending the county high school. Eversince that year, Dahlgren School hostedstudents only through the eighth grade.

The transition did not go smoothlyat first. Griffin and the other transfereesfound out about the decision only daysbefore the start of the new school year, asdid, apparently, the administrators at KingGeorge County schools. “For two days,we couldn’t get into the school at KingGeorge,” said Griffin. “There wasn’t anyspace for us.”

Once the logistical issues were ironedout, Griffin found his years at DahlgrenSchool prepared himwell for his academicfuture. “We were ahead because we hadtaken a lot of subjects King George didn’thave,” he said. “We did alright.”

Griffin had fondmemories of DahlgrenSchool’s first principal, Haley Settle, whobegan his tenure in the 1920s and retired inthe 1960s. “Hewas a gentleman and a goodteacher,” Griffin recounted.

During Griffin’s professional career,he worked for decades at the Dahlgren’sPublic Works Department. He witnessedthe construction of Dahlgren School andremembered touring the site. “I remembergoing up into the cupola on top and hownice the breeze was coming through thatthing,” he said. “They didn’t have any [airconditioners] on base in those days.”

His professional duties frequently tookhim to the current Dahlgren School, whereamong other responsibilities, he lookedafter the now-nonfunctional clock andschool bell system.

Griffin was surprised that the old sys-tem, which operated bymeans of punchedpaper code, still hangs on the wall. “Is thatthing still in there?” he asked. “You couldinterchange the tape; the tape was made

for this school system.”Griffin and his wife, Lois, who herself

spent her career at Dahlgren, were lookingover the clock when they were greeted bySheila Wolfe, a Dahlgren School alumnuswhose father was Griffin’s fishing buddy.

Wolfe’s mother, Virginia DahlgrenReynolds, was the first baby born on thebase. Known to her friends as “Dahl,” shewas born in 1919 in one of the houses bythe circle not far from the school.

Wolfe attended Dahlgren School un-til her sixth grade year and smiled as sherecalled memories of riding mules on theweekend, spending time at the pool andgoing to dances at the Officers Club. “Itwas a great place to grow up,” she said.

That was a theme of many reunion at-tendees as they embarked on a bus tour ofDahlgren. “It reminded me of a back-in-time type of town,” said Corie Dickson-Jef-fers, whomoved on fromDahlgren Schoolin 1983. “Everyone knew everybody andwe could walk everywhere.”

Jeffers and her family came all the wayfrom Savannah, Ga., driving all night toattend the reunion. Like many alums, shehad especially fondmemories of themusi-cal and theatrical productions she partici-pated in while attending Dahlgren School.“My favorite thing about the school wasthe programs we put on,” she said. “Thewhole school was involved. I learned somuch here.”

As the tour progressed, oohs and ahsrang out from the entourage as the busespassed familiar sights. “That’s my house!”said Amy Kasdorf-Gonzalez, who gradu-ated Dahlgren School in 1967 and now re-sides in Richmond.

Of course, Dahlgren has changed inthe years sincemany alumni saw the base.Boomtown, the residential area built dur-ing World War II in the area now occupied

by the Aegis Training and Readiness Cen-ter, no longer exists.

When the last of the installation’s civil-ian residents moved off base in the early1970s, many of Boomtown’s houses weremoved just outside the fence line to Dahl-gren Harbor, said Dr. Robert Gates, vicepresident of the Dahlgren Heritage Foun-dation and a tour guide for the reunion.

“So that’s why they look so familiar,”said Gonzales, who laughed about one fea-ture shared by just about every house onor near Dahlgren. “We never had straightpictures in the house.”

The underlying cause of that particularphenomenon is Dahlgren’s main range,the source of countless booms, bangs andblasts in its more than nine decades of op-eration.

The tour took the group through therange and offered a new perspective to atleast one alumnus who last saw the rangeon Armed Forces Day some decades ago.“This is the first time I’ve been in frontof the gun line!” said Joe Hanzel, class of1955.

Hanzel and his wife Donna journeyedto Dahlgren all the way from Stanford, Ca-lif., to see his old classmates.

That so many traveled so far to seetheir school and their pals is testament tothe close-knit community that still existsat Dahlgren. Though much has changed,much remains the same.

“[My] house over there looks exactlylike it did,” said Nancy Hopkins, class of1952, pointing to 776 Hall Road.

Drizzling rain was not enough to dis-courage Hopkins from walking the streetsaround Dahlgren School, smiling cheer-fully fromunderneath her umbrella. “I feelas safe as a baby in itsmother’s arms,” saidHopkins.

Dahlgren School alums reunite

U.S. Navy photos by Andrew Revelos

Dahlgren School alums Sheila Wolfe and Carlton Griffin at the reunionOct. 19.

Museum:Continued from page 1


TheSouthPotomacPilotNewspaper ispublishedweeklybySouthernMaryland Newspapers and Printing, 7 Industrial Park Drive, Waldorf, Md.20602, a private company in no way connected with the U.S. Navy, underexclusive written contract with Naval District Washington.

This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publicationformembersof themilitary services.Contents of TheSouthPotomacPilotare not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by the U.S. Gov-ernment, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Navy. Theappearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supple-

ments, doesnot constitute endorsement by theDepartment ofDefenseorSouthernMaryland Newspapers and Printing of the products or servicesadvertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available forpurchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex,national origin, age,marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, orany other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation orrejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, thepublisher shall refuse toprint advertising from that sourceuntil the violation

is corrected.Editorial content is edited, prepared, andprovidedby thePublicAffairs

Office, NSA South Potomac. News copy should be submitted by noon onFriday to be considered for the following week’s edition. All material is ed-ited for accuracy, brevity, clarity, and conformity to regulations. To inquireabout news copy, call 540-653-8153 or fax The South Potomac Pilot at540-653-4269. Commercial advertising may be placed with the publisherby calling 301-645-9480.

Capt. Peter NetteCommandingOfficer, NSA South Potomac

Gary R. WagnerPublic Affairs Officer, NSA South Potomac

Jeron HayesNSASouth PotomacManaging Editor

Andrew RevelosStaff Reporter

Breton Helsel andDeirdre Parry

Copy/layout editors, The Gazette/Comprint Military Publications

www.dcmilitary.com/dahlgrenNSA South Potomac • Office: 540-653-8153 • 540-284-0129

Dahlgren Commander on the Radio

U.S. Navy photo by Gary Wagner

Capt. Peter Nette, commanding officer for Naval Support Activity South Potomac, tapes a radio inter-view with Frank Hammond, news director for WFLS and WNTX radio stations. The interview, which willair on Oct. 26 for the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce’s weekly Business Link feature program,highlights Capt. Nette’s military experience and topics related to military missions and activities atNaval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va., where he serves as the base commander.

Excavations are underwaythrough the end of October ata number of locations acrossNaval Support Facility IndianHead as part of survey to mea-sure thicknesses of under-ground water pipes on the in-stallation. Some segments ofthe water piping system dateto the early 1900s. There areno expected impacts to wa-ter services or road closures.Excavations on the non-re-stricted side will be backfilledthe same day. Excavations onthe restricted side will be bar-ricaded and holes covered upwithplywoodduring thedura-tion of this project. Base per-sonnel are requested to main-tain a safe distance from thesesites to avoid any injuries ormishaps. Please contact theIndian Head assistant publicworks officer at 301-744-2153or [email protected] for fur-ther information.

Excavations Support Pipe Thickness Survey

DahlgrenHispanic Heritage Observance

NSF Dahlgren will hold a Hispanic Heritage Ob-servance on Wed., Oct. 30 from 12. - 1 p.m. at theAegis Auditorium. Guest speaker with be RafaelLandaeta, Associate Professor, Engineering Man-agement and Systems Engineering Department,Old Dominion University. This program is open toall with base access.

Army vs. Navy Blood Driveat NSF Dahlgren

For the second year, NSF Dahlgren will host theArmy vs. Navy Blood Drive Challenge. The ArmedServices Blood Program team will collect blood do-nations from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Com-munity House. At the Army/Navy football game onDec. 14 in Philadelphia, a trophy will be awardedto the service that receives the most donations. Allblood collected benefits military members andtheir families at home, overseas, in harm’s way andrecovering from injuries. Give our troops the mostprecious gift of all, the gift of life - give blood!

Second Tour Thrift Store OpenStarting in October, the Second Tour Thrift

Store will be open from 12:30 - 3 p.m. every Thurs-day. The store currently has some great Halloweencostumes and lots of fall and winter items avail-able. Second Tour accepts donations of gently useditems at their store on Sampson Road next to theUSO. All proceeds from sales at Second Tour aredonated to charities in the Dahlgren/King Georgeand surrounding communities, and provide schol-arship funds to dependents of military personnelthat are or were stationed on Dahlgren. Uniformson the porch are free and available 24/7!

Indian HeadIH Spouses’ Club “Treasures”Thrift Store Needs Your Donations!

The Indian Head Thrift Store “Treasures” is nowopen on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’resure you’ll love all the treasures you’ll find. Opento everyone - military and civilian! Come by andcheck us out. The store is located at 12 Strauss Ave.next door to the USO. Donations of gently useditems are currently being accepted. Want to earnup to $5 in free items from the thrift store everymonth? Volunteer! Stop by the thrift store duringoperating hours or email [email protected] information.

To publish information on your event or programunder “Base Happenings,” contact NSASP Public Af-fairs at 540-653-8153 or email [email protected].

Base Happenings


Liberty Center540-653-7277

Liberty Pizza NightOctober 29, 3 p.m.Eligible patrons include all with base access.Have dinner with Liberty and enjoy the newest movies.

For more information, please call the Liberty Center at 540-653-7277.

Liberty Tailgate PartyEvery Sunday during the NFL Season at 1 p.m.Open to Liberty Center patrons only: E1- E6 single/unac-

companied active duty Military.Come over to the Liberty Center and watch your favorite

team battle it out on the gridiron. Food and beverages willbe provided. For more information, please contact the Lib-erty Center at 540-653-7277.

Friday Karaoke NightEvery Friday in November at 7 p.m.Open to Liberty Center patrons onlyJoin us for music, singing and fun, every Friday in No-

vember! For more information, please contact the LibertyCenter at 540-653-7277.

Bowling Center540-653-7327

Costume Bowl BallOctober 30, 5 p.m.Eligible patrons include all with base access.Cannonball Lanes will be hosting a costume ball for

$8.50 per person. Cost includes three games and shoes perperson. Please participate in a family friendly costume! Formore information, please contact Cannonball Lanes at 540-653-7327.

Turkey BowlNovember 1 - 22Eligible patrons include all with base access.Bowl a turkey, three strikes in a row, and drop your name

in the box with your phone number. The drawing will take

place on Friday, November 22 at noon. The winning namepicked will receive a free Thanksgiving turkey! For moreinformation, please contact Cannonball Lanes at 540-653-7327.

Youth Learn-2-BowlNovember 2, 2 - 4 p.m.Eligible patrons include children ages (5 to 12) with base

access.Cost: $7.50 per child. Bowling instruction will be provid-

ed for children (ages 5-12) who want to learn how to bowl.Price includes two games and shoes. For more information,please contact Cannonball Lanes at 540-653-7327.

Fitness Center540-653-8580

Halloween Dodge ball TournamentOctober 29, 4 p.m.Eligible patrons include all with base access.The new dodge ball series is starting up again! Please

register at the Fitness Center anytime between now and themorning of the event. For more information, please contactthe Fitness Center at 540-653-8580.

General Library540-653-7474

Daddy & Me Mustache BashOctober 25, 4:30 p.m.Eligible patrons include all with base access.Put on your mustaches and get ready for some fun! Make

amustache necklace and say cheese! For more information,please contact the Library at 540-653-7474.

Holiday Cards to the TroopsNovember 1 - 8Eligible patrons include all with base access.Come to library andmake Christmas cards to send to our

troops! We will have all of the supplies you will need tomakethe perfect card. For more information, please contact theLibrary at 540-653-7474.

MWR Highlights

540-653-7336Friday and Saturday: 7 p.m. ShowingsPrice of ShowsCivilians - $5AD, Retired, Reserve, Family Members (E7 - above) $4AD, Reserve, Family Members (E6 - below) - $2.50Child (6-11) - $2; Child (5 and under) - FreeTickets for a movie shown in 3-D are an additional $1

Friday, October 25th7 p.m., Insidious Chapter 2, PG-13

Saturday, October 26th2 p.m., Hotel Transylvania*, PG

Saturday, October 26th4 p.m., Monsters vs. Aliens*, PG

Saturday, October 26th6 p.m., Frankenweenie*, PG

Saturday, October 26th8 p.m., Evil Dead*, R

Saturday, October 26th10 p.m., Nightmare on ElmStreet 2010*, R

Saturday, October 26th11:50 p.m., Poltergeist*, R

Friday, November 1st7 p.m., The Family, R

Saturday, November 2nd7 p.m., Rush, R

*The theater wants to get you in theHalloween spiritand to do that; all movies being played on Saturday,October 26th will be FREE!

MovieTheater

Over 40 runners turned out on Oct. 16 to commem-orate the 95th anniversary of the first gun firing atDahlgren. The 95th Anniversary 5k Run broughtrunners out to celebrate the anniversary. Runnerscompleted the run at the Parade Field, the site ofthe Anniversary/Diversity Day celebration.

Runners turn out for Dahlgren 95th Anniversary 5K Run

Capt. Pete Nette, CommandingOfficer, Naval Support Activity SouthPotomac, has advised that trick-or-treating by children in base housing atDahlgren and Indian Head will be heldon Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 - 8 p.m.

Residents who are participatingshould keep their outside lights on andresidents who are not participatingshould keep their outside lights off.

Please remember that trick-or-treating on base is for children who

live on base and that children shouldalways be accompanied by a respon-sible adult and every effort should bemade to protect the safety of you andyour children during this activity.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat hours for Base Residents

6 Friday, October 25, 2013The South Potomac Pilot Friday, October 25, 2013 7The South Potomac Pilot

Dahlgren Celebrates 95 Years/Diversity Day

U.S. Navy photos by Andrew Revelos

Service members and employees at Naval SupportFacility Dahlgren celebrated diversity and the base’s95th anniversary at the parade field Oct. 16. Music,art, food and displays highlighted the diversity thathelped make Dahlgren so successful through theyears. The many commands and departments thatcall Dahlgren home displayed their contributionsto national defense, as well as the various off-dutytalents of employees. Local farmers also showed offsome of their locally-grown produce available atthe King George Farmers Market.


NSWCDD.Apostofficecalled“Dido”existed in theareaprior to theestablish-

mentof thebase, saidSmith, but theNavywanted toname the instal-lation inhonorofAdm. JohnAugustusDahlgren, the fatherofmodern

naval ordnance. “So they convinced the state of Virginia to renamethe post office Dahlgren, which then allowed the Navy to name theproving grounds after Dahlgren.”

Smith seconded Nette’s praise for the Dahlgren Heritage Foun-dation. “Through your efforts, you honor then men and women whothroughout the years have been pioneers in research and develop-ment efforts that have resulted in many and great solutions that haveproved so vital to surface and sub-surface Navy,” he said. “Becauseof Dahlgren’s history museum, we have added assurance that ourstory will be told as we move forward in developing systems that areincreasingly flexible and more effective.”

Smith also thanked the communities surrounding Dahlgren fortheir continuing support. “Since arriving here three years ago, I havebeen impressedby local residentsandmembersof thework force thathave testified about Dahlgren’s integral role to the history of the sur-rounding region,” he said. “It is clear that this community has alwaysworked exceptionally well with the Navy.”

Two leaders from that community, Del. Margaret Ransone andstate Sen. Richard Stuart, discussed the installation’s history and fu-ture.

“Let me tell you, as a little boy growing up in the Northern Neck,listening to those booms, we heard those booms and we didn’t pay abitofattention,”saidStuart. “But I’ll tell youwhatwedidpayattentionto was the fact that we had this base here in the Northern Neck andwe appreciated it. We wanted it here and we all worked together tomake sure the base felt welcomed and would stay here. I think that’sa critical issue.”

The base also serves as a vital employer in the area. “[Dahlgren] issuch a tremendous asset to this region,” said Stuart.

Ransone also grew up along the Potomac River and is well ac-quaintedwith thenoise. “I’mhumbled to standbefore somanydeco-rated officers and military personnel and civilians and defense con-tractors this evening, honoring 95 years of Navy heritage based righthere at Dahlgren in King George County,” she said. “Because of yourhard work, we’ve been blessed with 95 years of dedicated service toour great nation.”

Ransone read a proclamation from Governor Bob McDonnell de-claring Oct. 16, 2013 Dahlgren Day, in recognition of the installation’scontributions toboth thenationaldefenseand thecommonwealthofVirginia. Ransonepresentedeachcommandingofficer atDahlgren’scommands with copies of the proclamation.

The guest speaker at the anniversary ceremony is no stranger toDahlgren. Rear Adm. Brad Hicks (Ret.) commanded Navy Air andMissile Defense Command and was the program director for AegisBallistic Missile Defense at Dahlgren prior to his retirement from theNavy in2009.Duringhis tour,he ledthemissionthatsuccessfully shotdownadamagedsatellite threateninganuncontrolledreentry intothe

earth’s atmosphere. Hicks is currently a vice president at LockheedMartin.

Hicks said it was an “honor” to speak at the ceremony and pon-deredthechallengesofDahlgren’spast,presentandfuture.Thebase’sestablishment in 1918, he said, also coincided with America’s post-World War 1 disarmament. “The Navy got real small. Only throughtheperseveranceof families [like the]Rooseveltsandsomeothers thatwe maintained a Navy, per our Constitution.”

WhenDahlgren increased itsoutput forWorldWar II, anti-aircraftproximity fuses helped win the war. “Those algorithms, those math-ematical models were envisioned here at Dahlgren,” said Hicks.

American consumers have also benefit from research and devel-opmentonthebase.“Yourcar’snavigationsystem, itsGPSsystemandthe science behind it, came from [Dahlgren],” Hicks continued. “Sothebasehas seengood timesand innovatedanddelivered.Question-ing people, men and women from engineering backgrounds all overthe country came here. In 1973, there was one stoplight, I believe. Ifyouwanted togetagoodmeal, other than localdownhomefood, youwere just kind of out of luck. But people persevered down here.”

Hicks said the colocationofmanyNavy commandsatDahlgren isa major factor in the installation’s continued success, a situation setin motion by the late Rear Adm. Wayne Meyer, “father” of the AegisCombat System. Colocation allowed engineers to work closely withthe officers and Sailors that would maintain and use Aegis. “We hadlearned painfully that as weapons systems got more complex, if youdidn’t do that, you might not get it right,” said Hicks.

Meyer’sdecision tobaseall thingsAegis atDahlgrenhaspaiddivi-dendstoboththeNavyandthebase, saidHicks,butefforts to improvewarfighting capability must be ongoing. “The legacy lives on. As Ad-miralMeyer said to theworkforcedownhere,wheneveryone thoughtwe’d reached a milestone, he’d remind them we ain’t done yet, in hisMissouri drawl.”

Thatkindof foresightandperseverance isDahlgren’swayforward.“When you look at the innovation that’s come out this lab, it has sur-vived good times and bad times,” said Hicks.

Thoughthenation’sbudgetary troublesandtheireffectonthemil-itary remains to be solved, Hicks thinks Dahlgren has a bright futureaheadof it. “Iwill tell you thatDahlgrenalways standsat the topof thelist of things we have to preserve.”

Hicks recounted his conversations with then-Rear Adm. MikeMullen about the prospects of locating NAMDC in Dahlgren. “WhyDahlgren?” asked Hicks. “Because again, the training, the technicalexcellence is here.”

Innovation:Continued from page 1

01040056A

01040580A


Navy Air and Missile De-fense Command recognizedits Contractor of the Quarterduring a recent awards cer-emony here.

Richard Gonzaludo, as-signed to the Doctrine andPlans directorate, was recog-nized for his work developingjoint integrated air defensecommand tactics, techniquesand procedures.

Gonzaludo collaboratedwith the Joint Staff, Navycommands and other mili-tary services to produce adocument that providesguidance for command andcontrol, planning and in-teroperability for a multi-service integrated air defensesystem.

“Rich epitomizes the kindof diverse talent we need inthe missile defense arena,”said Tom Reale, General Dy-namics Information Tech-nologies program manager.

“A career in the Air Force, hiswork with the Joint Staff, andthe Missile Defense Agencyprovides him a broad per-spective of needs and re-quirements.”

Gonzaludo joined NAM-DC in August 2010. He is aretired Air Force lieutenantcolonel with 23 years of ser-vice. His last active duty as-signment was commandinga Site Activation Task Forceresponsible for beddingdown the Ground-BasedMidcourse Defense missionat Vandenberg Air ForceBase, Calif.

Gonzaludo is employedby General Dynamics Infor-mation Technologies. He re-sides in Stafford, Va., with hiswife and two children.

NAMDC is the Navy’sprimary authority and leadorganization for Naval Jointand Coalition Integrated AirandMissile Defense matters.

Contractor of the Quarter

Richard Gonzaludo is recognized by RearAdmiral Randall Hendrickson as NAMDCContractor of the Quarter a recent ceremony.

DahlgrenSpooky Harvest Party

Trinity United Methodist Church, Rt. 3 in King Georgewill hold a Spooky Harvest Party this Friday, Oct. 25 from 6 -8 p.m. Enjoy a Mad Scientist’s Lab, Fortune Telling, SpookyStorytelling and a Costume Contest. Free and open to ev-eryone!

King George County Veteran’s Day CeremonyKing George County Ruritan Club will hold a Veteran’s

Day Ceremony onMon., Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at King GeorgeHigh School Auditorium. Please come and honor our localveterans and their service to our country. This event is freeand open to all. Refreshments will be served.

Stafford Musicians to Unite Against HungerMarching Band Students across Stafford County will

BAND together on Veteran’s Day to fight hunger. They per-form on the football field of Mountain View High School onMonday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. This will be the third event, where400 students from each of the five Stafford high schools willperform as one as an example of working together to helpothers. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and concessions will beavailable. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perish-able food or money to donate to the Fredericksburg AreaFood Bank. The U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps willperform at the event. Mountain View High School is locatedat 2135Mountain View Road in Stafford. All proceeds will goto benefit the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank and providefood back to the hungry of our community.

Great Night OutThe Rotary Club of King George-Dahlgren presents a

Great Night Out with the famous dueling pianos as seen atBobby McKey’s at National Harbor on Sat., Nov. 16 from6 p.m. - midnight at the Riverboat on the Potomac in Co-lonial Beach. Tickets are $40 each and include dinner andthe show. Event will also include a silent auction featuringitems such as sporting event tickets, restaurant certificates,YMCAmemberships, vacations andmore. Tickets are avail-able by contacting [email protected] or callingDeanna Kroner, (540) 226-1252.

Indian HeadCSM Faculty Music Showcase

CSM’s Faculty Music Showcase will be held Oct. 29 at7:30 p.m. at College of SouthernMaryland, La Plata Campus,Fine Arts Center, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Members ofCSM’s music faculty plus colleagues from the communica-tion and dance departments, as well as community friendswill perform an evening of music and dance ranging instyles from classical to popular, including original works as

well as time-tested classics. Admission is $5 in advance, $7day of concert. For tickets, contact the box office at [email protected] or call 301-934-7828. www.csmd.edu/Arts.

Free Rabies Clinic Offered on Nov. 10Protect the ones you love! Maryland law requires all dogs,

cats, and ferrets be vaccinated for rabies. Bring your pet toa free rabies clinic on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.at Ironsides Volunteer Rescue Squad located at 6120 PortTobacco Road, Ironsides. The clinic is sponsored by thevolunteers of the Charles County Animal Response Team,Charles County Animal Control, and the Charles CountyDepartment of Health. Dog and Cat licenses will also beavailable for purchase. The fee for a pet license is $5 if youranimal is altered; $25 is your animal is not altered. All dogsmust be leashed. All cats and ferrets must be contained ina carrier.

For more information about the free clinic, contact theCharles County Department of Emergency Services at 301-609-3425 or e-mail Debbie Yost at [email protected]. Citizens with special needs may contact the MarylandRelay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.

Community Notes

01041082A

Wantedto Buy

Full TimeHelp Wanted



Apartments

LegalServices

LegalServices

LegalServices




Houses for RentKing George Co.

Apartments

T H E S O U T H P O T O M A C O C T O B E R 2 5 , 2 0 1 3

PilotClassifiedsServing Our Military and Civilian Personnel

The Publisher reserves the right to censor, reclassify, revise, edit or reject any classifiedadvertisement not meeting the standards of acceptance of Southern Maryland Newspapers. Allads accepted are subject to credit approval.Check your ad the first day it appears and, if you find a mistake, call our office so we may correctthe error, immediately.We will only be responsible for the 1st day of publication. Please be sure toread your ad carefully.

The South Potomac Pilot shall not be held responsible for any omitted adsfor any reason.

Placing An Ad

BUSINESS HOURS: MON. thru FRI. 8:15AM - 5:15PM

Advertising DeadlineTuesday 4pm - Friday Paper.

LINER Ads -All copy ads containing no special type or artwork. Ads are billed by the line with a 4 -line minimum.SEMI-DISPLAY Ads -Ads that are typeset in a 1 or 2 column format. These ads may contain limited special type, logos orlimited special borders. They are billed by the inch with a 2-inch minimum.DISPLAY Ads -Ads contain logos, artwork and special borders. Ads are billed by the inch with a 2-inch minimum.Classified and Recruitment rates apply. All Private Parties Ads must be pre-paidBase personnel can run Free classified ads

Important InformationPublication Day: Friday

Southern Maryland/Dahlgren 1-888-406-7663 • 1-800-843-3357 • website: http://www.somdnews.com

This ad is a public service of this newspaper.

This ad is a public service of this newspaper.

Thisa

disap

ublic

servic

eofth

isnew

spaper

.

Security OfficersNorthern Virginia

HIRING for unarmed security officers with a DOD TSor SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE. Some

additional positions do not require a security clearance.FT & PT-weekend positions are available. Prior security,

military or law enforcement experience is desirable.For employment one must be a US citizen, English

proficient w/ good computer skills, 21 years or older w/HS diploma/GED & drug free with no criminal record.We provide weekly pay and uniforms at no cost.

Benefits are available for full time employees.

APPLY IN PERSON - NO Phone CallsMon - Thurs, 10am-4pm

Guardsmark, LLC14120 Parke-Long Ct, #201

Chantilly, VA 20151VA Lic 11-1195 / EOE

T6615020A

CALL FOR AN INITIAL CONSULTATIONWWW.BURCHLAWFIRMLLC.COM

The Burch Law Firm, LLC

“Helping the People who Serve and their Families.”

* Military Law* Security Clearance* Family Law* ChildCustody/Support* Auto Accidents

301-474-4468

MILITARYDISCOUNT

Larry Burch former Navy Jag

Small collector paysCASH for Coins / Collec-tions / Gold. Will come toyou. Al 301-807-3266

S522819

GREAT MILLS:1br apt,full furnished or unfurnish-ed, utilites included, long/short term lease. 3 miN.of NAS PAX riv. NS NPNo SEC 8. 301-904-2857

PORT TOBACCO: 1 bd,ba, kit, din rm, liv rm, di-rect tv, NP, NS. $800/mo.Cred chk 301-934-4254

DAHLGREN: 2 bdrm, 1ba TH, W/D, $880 mo.,some util paid. Ready andclean. 540-429-5826.

The South Potomac Pilot10 Friday, October 25, 2013

Robyn James., M.D.J.A.Weddington, M.D.Katina Byrd Miles, M.D.Allan Harrington, M.D.

301.292.6010

11701 LIVINGSTON RD, STE 302, FT. WASHINGTON, MD101 CENTENNIAL ST, SUITE H, LA PLATA, MD

1033

769

For alifetimeof

Healthy,Gorgeous Skin

Receive aFREE GIFTwith your firstappointment.*With this ad only*

GRANDOPENING

inLa Plata

Stay Alive!Don’t Drink & Drive!

01041047A

01041081A


1033858


Documents

Southpotpilot102513