Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Welcome to the Official Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Facebook Fan page sponsored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division.

The Carderock Division consists of approximately 3,200 scientists, engineers and support personnel working in more than 40 disciplines ranging from fundamental science to applied/in-service engineering. We are the Navy's experts for maritime technology. The Division houses world-class facilities and laboratories. Carderock's Headquarters is located in West Bethesda, Maryland. The Division also con

ducts research and development at several remote sites across the country. As a major component and field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, the Carderock Division provides cradle-to-grave support for its technical products over an enormous range of scientific areas related to surface and undersea platforms. The Division addresses the full spectrum of applied maritime science and technology, from the theoretical and conceptual beginnings, through design and acquisition, to implementation and follow-on engineering. This includes all technical aspects of improving the performance of ships, submarines, military water craft, and unmanned vehicles, as well as research for military logistics systems. In addition, the Division is uniquely chartered by Congress to support America's maritime industry. We design, build, deliver and maintain ships, submarines and systems reliably, on-time and on-cost for the United States Navy.

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About Naval Sea Systems Command

The Naval Sea Systems Command is comprised of command staff, headquarters directorates, affiliated Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and numerous field activities. Together, we engineer, build, buy and maintain ships, submarines and combat systems that meet the Fleet's current and future operational requirements. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is the largest of the Navy's five system commands. With a fiscal year budget of nearly $30 billion, NAVSEA accounts for nearly one quarter of the Navy's entire budget. With a force of 80,200 (as of 1 Oct 2019) civilian and military personnel, NAVSEA engineers, builds, buys and maintains the Navy's ships and submarines and their combat systems. To accomplish this, NAVSEA manages 150 acquisition programs and manages foreign military sales cases that include billions of dollars in annual military sales to partner nations. The origin of NAVSEA dates to 1794, when Commodore John Barry was charged to oversee the construction of a 44-gun frigate and ensure that all business "harmonized and conformed" to the public's interest. Today, the NAVSEA organization has 40 activities. NAVSEA strives to be an efficient provider of defense resources for the nation, and it plays an important role in the Navy Enterprise. As a Provider Command, it has the responsibility of directing resource sponsors into the proper mix of manpower and resources to properly equip the fleet. NAVSEA has the further responsibility of establishing and enforcing technical authority in combat system design and operation. These technical standards use the organization's technical expertise to ensure systems are engineered effectively, and that they operate safely and reliably. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Navy or NAVSEA of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. Other than for authorized activities, such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the United States Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

This page is intended to provide updated information and discussion on work that NAVSEA does to support and supply the US Navy. Please visit our official homepage at www.navsea.navy.mil

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THE PROTOTYPE FLY-OFF: HOW CARDEROCK AND THE MARINES FORGED THE HOVERCRAFT FLEET  Caption: Amphibious Assault Landing Cr...
09/01/2026

THE PROTOTYPE FLY-OFF: HOW CARDEROCK AND THE MARINES FORGED THE HOVERCRAFT FLEET

Caption: Amphibious Assault Landing Craft (AALC). These two developmental prototype air-cushion landing craft, JEFF-A (Aerojet) and JEFF-B (Bell) soon attracted vigorous Marine Corps support.

In the 1970s, the Navy launched a competitive fly-off between two high-speed prototypes—Aerojet’s JEFF-A and Bell’s JEFF-B—to transform amphibious assault capabilities. Serving as technical manager, Carderock embedded civilian engineers alongside naval personnel at the Panama City, Florida, trials unit to evaluate lift fan dynamics, skirt durability, and 50-knot well-deck operations.

When funding headwinds threatened the program, dedicated backing from Marine Corps leadership kept developmental trials moving forward. This competitive testing validated air-cushion performance and established the technical foundation for the fleet's modern hovercraft capability.

Carderock, the Navy's innovation and ship design powerhouse, continues to deliver world-class, cost-effective, and groundbreaking technical solutions for advanced ships and systems to strengthen the U.S. maritime industrial base and ensure long-term maritime superiority.

Newly appointed supervisors from across the warfare centers gathered at Carderock for Propel Launch, a five-day leadersh...
08/29/2026

Newly appointed supervisors from across the warfare centers gathered at Carderock for Propel Launch, a five-day leadership development training course on August 17-21, 2026. The course equips new supervisors with the tools necessary to effectively engage their workforce, navigate through challenging situations and staff effective teams with the path to success.

Carderock focuses on empowering our workforce and providing the tools necessary for success, delivering a direct return on investment to national maritime readiness and workforce quality.

During Valiant Shield 26, Carderock’s MASS team worked alongside III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines in Okinawa to es...
08/27/2026

During Valiant Shield 26, Carderock’s MASS team worked alongside III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines in Okinawa to establish a manufacturing lab and train Marines to manufacture and operate Foam Raiding Craft.

For Carderock engineers, the effort also meant learning directly from the people who could ultimately use what they design, helping shape where the technology goes next.

Read more about the team behind the effort: https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article-View/Article/4584708/carderock-mass-team-takes-rapid-manufacturing-to-the-warfighter-at-valiant-shie/

Three Florida Tech ocean engineering students came to Carderock this summer chasing a single number: 34%. That target re...
08/26/2026

Three Florida Tech ocean engineering students came to Carderock this summer chasing a single number: 34%.

That target represented the projected range boost for their modified destroyer hull model.

Through the STEM Student Employment Program (SSEP), Brianna Ellis, Zoey Shepard and Collin Morr brought their senior capstone design to Carderock’s David Taylor Model Basin, fabricating and testing alongside Navy engineers while exploring where maritime defense careers could take them.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4gmyx9j

Three Florida Institute of Technology students spent their summer at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division chasing a number: 34%. That’s how much additional range their destroyer hull

HUNTING FOR WHISPERS: HOW CARDEROCK ENGINEERED MODERN UNDERWATER STEALTHCaption: Alabama (SSBN 731). With a submarine te...
08/25/2026

HUNTING FOR WHISPERS: HOW CARDEROCK ENGINEERED MODERN UNDERWATER STEALTH

Caption: Alabama (SSBN 731). With a submarine tethered in Carr Inlet, engineers can determine sources and pathways of noise propagation (historic rendering).

In the realm of undersea dominance, silence is the ultimate shield. As detection technologies advanced through the late Cold War and beyond, ensuring fleet survivability required a deeper understanding of how sound travels through a vessel’s hull, machinery, and propulsion systems.

To solve these complex acoustic challenges, Carderock developed some of the world’s most sophisticated acoustic measurement facilities and testing methodologies. By conducting trials in ultra-quiet, controlled environments—such as the tethered measurements depicted with USS Alabama (SSBN 731) at Carr Inlet, deep-water model testing at Lake Pend Oreille, and full-scale signature evaluations at SEAFAC in Alaska—engineers isolated the subtle pathways of structure-borne noise. This long-term mastery of acoustic data and signature reduction established modern stealth standards, keeping U.S. Navy submarines virtually undetectable beneath the surface.

Carderock, the Navy's innovation and ship design powerhouse, continues to deliver world-class, cost-effective, and groundbreaking technical solutions for advanced ships and systems to strengthen the U.S. maritime industrial base and ensure long-term maritime superiority.

When the sea meets the stars, innovation knows no limits.   Carderock was proud to host Dr. Cara Leckey, Chief Technolog...
08/24/2026

When the sea meets the stars, innovation knows no limits.

Carderock was proud to host Dr. Cara Leckey, Chief Technologist for NASA's Langley Research Center, for a lecture exploring shared research opportunities and cross-domain technology advancement.

From testing splashdown recovery dynamics for NASA's Orion spacecraft to pioneering advancements in structures and materials, our partnership with NASA showcases what happens when the nation's best and brightest minds collaborate.

As NASA works to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond, NSWC Carderock Division (the Navy’s innovation and ship design powerhouse – where the fleet begins) delivers the multidisciplinary research, data-driven solutions, and world-class testing needed to solve complex engineering challenges across sea, air, and space.

Read more about Carderock’s support of NASA's Orion capsule, used in the Artemis II splashdown: https://bit.ly/4y34xFt

Representatives from the new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DRPM) Submarine and Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PA...
08/22/2026

Representatives from the new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DRPM) Submarine and Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Undersea organization's Fast Attack Indoctrination in SSN Heritage (FISH) Qualification Program visited Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Aug. 18, 2026.

During the visit, the team received an overview of Carderock, followed by tours of several of our cutting-edge research facilities, such as the David Taylor Model Basin, the Maneuvering and Seakeeping (MASK) Basin, Additive Manufacturing labs, and the Deep Submergence Pressure Tank.

The FISH Qualification Program’s goal is to enhance professional growth and team effectiveness within DRPM Sub/PAE Undersea, and visits to world-class ship design and innovation hubs like Carderock contribute to their knowledge and expertise of the current and future operational submarine force.

Leaders in the Navy’s and Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Budget and Corporate Operations shops visit Naval Surface...
08/21/2026

Leaders in the Navy’s and Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Budget and Corporate Operations shops visit Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock for a look at the unique research facility just outside the beltway on Aug. 11, 2026.

NAVSEA Deputy Commander/Comptroller Henry Creque, NAVSEA Deputy commander for Total Force and Corporate Operations Leslie Joseph and Director for Civilian Resources and Business Affairs Natalia Li combined their time to get a command overview and tour of the David Taylor Model Basin, as well as the Navy’s Curator of Ship Models during their visit to Carderock’s West Bethesda, Md., site.

From underwater robotics to real-world engineering challenges, the next generation of maritime innovators is already mak...
08/20/2026

From underwater robotics to real-world engineering challenges, the next generation of maritime innovators is already making waves. 🌊🤖

Meet NSWC Carderock engineer James Duval, who volunteers as a support diver for the MATE ROV underwater robotics competition—helping students put STEM skills into action and explore careers in ocean engineering, robotics and marine technology.

Read how he’s helping inspire future innovators: https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article-View/Article/4576314/carderock-engineer-helps-inspire-future-maritime-innovators-through-underwater/

While supporting the U.S. Navy's mission as an ocean engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division’s Hull Response and Protection Branch (Code 664), James Duval also volunteers beneath

Carderock’s commanding officer, Capt. Chris Matassa, visited site personnel in Philadelphia on July 31, 2026, to tour cr...
08/19/2026

Carderock’s commanding officer, Capt. Chris Matassa, visited site personnel in Philadelphia on July 31, 2026, to tour critical fleet support operations, recognize outstanding employee achievements, and celebrate career milestones.

The visit began on the water with a tour of the decommissioned frigate ex-Klakring to inspect target preparation and instrumentation for the upcoming Atlantic Thunder Fleet exercise, scheduled for mid-September in the United Kingdom.

Following the tour, engagement centered around an employee All-Hands lunch in the NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Building 1 main conference room at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, highlighting the command’s stellar team in the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Bravo Zulu to the Philadelphia team for a successful visit and congratulations to the award recipients for their dedicated service to Carderock and the Navy!

Address

9500 MacArthur Boulevard
Bethesda, MD
20817

Opening Hours

Monday 6am - 6pm
Tuesday 6am - 6pm
Wednesday 6am - 6pm
Thursday 6am - 6pm
Friday 6am - 6pm

Telephone

+13012274465

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