Photo By Corum Byers | John T. Phillips, Director of Fleet Engagement, at Naval Surface Warfare Center,...... read more read more
By Alisha Tyer, NSWC Carderock Division Public Affairs
BETHESDA, Md. – John T. Phillips, director of fleet engagement in the Technology & Innovation Office at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, received the 2024 Warfighting Readiness Award in recognition of his efforts in uniting the fleet, application, and technical communities to advance the Navy’s capabilities.
The award was presented on April 29, 2025 during the Command Award and Warfare Center Award Ceremony, where Capt. Christopher Matassa, Dr. Michael Shang, and department heads honored the 2024 Command Award recipients and Carderock’s Warfare Center awardees. Phillips was unable to attend the ceremony, and the award was accepted on his behalf.
Bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology, systems engineering, and real-world fleet operations is no small feat, but Phillips made it his mission. As a key player in aligning the Navy’s technological advancements with operational needs, he has been instrumental in driving experimentation, demonstrations, and disruptive capabilities, particularly by leveraging the increasingly important capability of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs).
Phillips was an inaugural member of the Department of the Navy’s Unmanned Task Force to establish a Disruptive Capabilities Office, ensuring NAVSEA’s Warfare Centers deliver solutions with immediate fleet impact. He credits his time as an Office of Naval Research Global Science Advisor to Marine Corps Forces Command from 2018 to 2021 as pivotal, recognizing then the potential of USVs in fleet innovation.
“I learned a lot about warfighting needs and how the fleet works across the Navy and Marine Corps,” Phillips said. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to try to address those needs. I was able to take a lot of those lessons from the fleet and apply them to the work being done by the Navy Unmanned Task Force.”
He explained that USVs offer incredible potential to safely and efficiently meet fleet requirements, especially in high-endurance missions or situations where sailors might face unnecessary risks. Returning to Carderock, Phillips identified connections between specific programs, capabilities, and expertise that could better support fleet needs.
“We focused on a three-pronged approach,” he said. “First, engaging with the fleet commands to support their events through experiments and demonstrations. Second, connecting with Echelon I commands, which oversee many of the programs, to establish a valuable link between fleet needs and the programs designed to meet them. Finally, and most importantly to Carderock, bringing all that knowledge back to the Warfare Centers to align our efforts with fleet priorities and future program requirements.”
Phillips’ innovative approach, recognizing the overlooked connections between the fleet, application and technical communities, earned his selection for the award. For him, the recognition reinforces the tangible impact of his efforts to support the Navy in protecting the nation.
“I’m thrilled to receive this award,” he said. “It’s a good litmus test that the work I’m doing is well received. I never served in uniform, but the call to serve is strong. My family has a legacy of Navy civilian service—my dad, my uncle, my aunt—so that sense of duty and making a difference for the Navy was instilled in me early on.”
Phillips said he never imagined his love for problem-solving and repairing cars with his father would evolve into a career at Carderock. Today, he hopes his work helps leave the world a better place for his four-year-old daughter. He credits his strong support system, including Carderock’s Deputy Technical Director Dr. Dave Drazen, with enabling him to innovate and champion initiatives leading to his recognition.
“Dr. Drazen provided me with the autonomy to do good things for the Navy,” Phillips said. “I’ve always been thankful for his support and trust. And my wife—she has always been there for me. Many of the exercises and demonstrations we organized meant I was away from home a lot. I couldn’t have done any of this without someone holding things together when I wasn’t there.”
Looking ahead, Phillips remains committed to supporting the warfighter in any way he can.
“I don’t know exactly what I’ll take on next,” he said. “But my goal is always to add value to whatever organization I’m supporting—ultimately to bring capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps that make them a more effective fighting force.”
His recognition with the 2024 Warfighting Readiness Award highlights the importance of visionary leadership in driving the Navy’s operational edge.
Carderock, the Navy's innovation and ship design powerhouse, headquartered in West Bethesda, Maryland, is a world-class research and development facility specializing in critical ship design components. Carderock uses state-of-the-art facilities, like the David Taylor Model Basin, to create small-scale models and evaluate next-generation surface ships and underwater vessels, ensuring they are future-proof, agile, and equipped to dominate the maritime environment. Carderock's focus areas include Platform Integrity, Signatures, and Naval Architecture and Engineering. With teams and facilities across the country, from Florida to Alaska and Idaho to Washington, Carderock is "Where the Fleet Begins," building the future of the Navy.
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.16.2025 08:45 |
| Story ID: | 497650 |
| Location: | BETHESDA, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, John Phillips Receives 2024 Warfare Center Award for Warfighting Readiness, by Alisha Tyer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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