Energy expo draws power, crowds to view new technology

Photo By Cpl. Sullivan Laramie | Retired Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn (left), the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, speaks to a representative of one of the civilian companies responsible for developing new, more energy efficient batteries for the Marine Corps at the Expeditionary Energy Concepts demonstration aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 24, 2015. The demonstration drew VIPs from Marine Corps, Department of Defense and civilian organizations, as well as members of other military services and other countries.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

06.25.2015

Story by Cpl. Sullivan Laramie 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines are problem solvers, but sometimes improvising, adapting and overcoming is not enough. Sometimes we need outside help developing new and improved technology.

Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force toured the Expeditionary Energy Concepts, or E2C, demonstration aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., June 23 – 25, to learn about new technology and equipment they might use in the future. However, they didn’t just learn about the gear; they gave their input directly to the companies making it.

“The last thing that I want to do is procure something for Marines on the battlefield that they think is useless,” said Col. James Caley, the director of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy office. “I want to procure something that makes sense to them. This is our attempt to put the Marine in front of the gear and give a lance corporal, a sergeant or a staff sergeant a say in the billions of dollars of gear we buy for Marines.”

The demonstration, formerly called the Experimental Forward Operating Base, allows the Marine Corps to identify, evaluate and accelerate technology to fill gaps in the Marine Corps’ capabilities.

“This event is about a partnership with industry to try to get solutions,” Caley said. “This is not my solution to the problem or any other Marine’s solution; this is us asking the companies ‘how do I fix this?’”

The focus of E2C 2015 was on new power sources and technology, hybrid and electric all-terrain vehicle systems, including a light-weight battery combined with body armor capable of continuing to charge equipment after being shot, and utility vehicles able to cover 100 miles very quietly compared to other military vehicles.

“We need to lighten our load and be aware of how much energy we use,” said Capt. Anthony Ripley, the science and technology lead for the Expeditionary Energy Office. “This year we want to make sure all the II MEF Marines are familiar with what’s going on. E2C is the tool we use to address that issue to meet our energy goals by 2025.”

• Date Taken: 06.25.2015
• Date Posted: 06.25.2015 11:30
• Story ID: 168087
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US