Photo By Dana Rene White | Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division’s Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS),...... read more read more
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Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division’s (NSWC PHD) Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS) returned June 12 to its home at Naval Base Ventura County after a 14-month necessary Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) for maintenance, repairs and modernization.
The SDTS arrived at Naval Base San Diego on April 2, 2024, to begin repairs for hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) maintenance and upgrades at BAE Systems Ship Repair’s shipyard in San Diego.
The test ship’s master, Alex Osiadacz, a U.S. Coast Guard licensed master and responsible for safe navigation, operation and the crew, said it felt good to get home.
“I am grateful for the support we had from the command, government and contractors,” he said. “But I’m especially grateful for the crew that stuck it out and the families that supported its mission.”
Proper welcome
NSWC PHD Commanding Officer Capt. Tony Holmes met with the crew aboard the ship on June 16 to welcome it home.
“It’s been a challenging year, and a lot has happened, but we’re happy you’re home,” he said.
Holmes told the crew that the SDTS remains a command priority, and that its mission will continue.
“Thank you for hanging in there, and thank you for being back,” he said.
Structural and safety maintenance
Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Gontarz, test ship officer for SDTS, said the SRA was a collaboration with Navy and contractor services.
While docked in the BAE Systems Ship Repair shipyard, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) served as Naval Supervisory Authority and led the project management team.
Jamie Simons, the SDTS operation branch manager, said program sponsor Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems’ Enterprise Test and Evaluation (T&E) office (PEO IWS 1TE) and the SDTS resource sponsor — the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N94 — funded the SDTS SRA. OPNAV N94 is the office that manages innovation, technology requirements and T&E for the U.S. Navy.
Under SWRMC’s guidance, the team maintained and repaired the SDTS. Specifically, team members examined and mended the fuel tanks and tops of the ship’s fire safety system, the firefighting system, fire main pipe and sea water service valves.
SWRMC replaced and aligned resilient mounts for the gas, inspected and repaired turbine main engines and tank level indicators, while also servicing the ship’s superstructure for corrosion and restoring the deck.
Ready for testing
According to Dave Moore, the SDTS customer advocate, in addition to HM&E systems maintenance and repair, NSWC PHD’s alteration installation team was part of a team that made significant combat system upgrades to prepare for upcoming enterprise testing.
The new combat system improvements enable the SDTS to support USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), USS Bougainville (LHA 8) and USS San Antonio (LPD 17) Flight II class configurations in compliance with next year’s Air Warfare Ship Self-Defense Test and Evaluation Master Plan 1910.
Crew at work
According to Osiadacz, the shipyard period was all hands on deck for the crew.
“No job was beneath anyone,” he said. “I found myself often asking, ‘What do you need?’ and initiating the process to equip my team leads with what they could use to do the job better, safer and more efficiently.”
According to Simons, the time schedule the crew of civilians and contractors kept in San Diego — 12-hour days with only one day off weekly — was similar to active duty.
With a minimal crew of between 50 and 60, personnel regularly patrolled the ship to inspect various compartments for safety hazards and security breaches.
Personnel maintained systems not being repaired. They also maintained a “tag-out” system to prevent equipment or systems undergoing maintenance from accidentally activating.
In addition to their regular duties, the crew also supported BAE and SWRMC, conducting final turnover of repaired work items.
However, Simons explained, once the work items were completed, the exacting task of system verification before sailing began.
For the crew, the SDTS’s SRA culminated in “Lighting off/check out” of all major systems. Lighting off involves testing and assessing the ship’s readiness in key areas like firefighting capability and material condition. Check out refers to completing administrative tasks when transferring to a new duty.
When all was complete, the SDTS set sail for home on June 11.
Testing while underway
On the journey from San Diego to Port Hueneme, the SDTS crew took advantage of the time at sea to continue training.
Carlos Boisselier, the SDTS lead systems engineer, said the crew assisted in two exercises on the journey home.
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific carried out experimental antenna tracking exercises, and deck landing qualifications were conducted for Aspen Helicopters.
During the SRA, the SDTS was upgraded with the Ship Self-Defense System Baseline 12 and the new SPY-6 radar system.
Simons added that the SDTS is expected to assist other agencies and customers as well.
“From January 2026 through fiscal year 2028, the SDTS will be ready to support any and all T&E requirements of those who need it,” he said.
Extended life
After being commissioned 49 years ago, the ex-USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964) was decommissioned in 2003, designated to replace ex-USS Decatur (DDG 31) in 2004, and came to Port Hueneme in 2014. As of 2025, the 564-foot SDTS is the last active Spruance-class destroyer in the Navy.
The SDTS is a refurbished warship that can be remotely operated and is used to help with self-defense engineering, testing and evaluation.
During test events, launched threats attack the ship. Installed weapon systems that are controlled remotely respond, defending the ship. Unmanned, the ship can avoid safety constraints associated with crewed ships.
“The SDTS is the only Navy ship to safely test weapons systems to keep us safe from adversaries,” Gontarz said. “It’s very sobering that this ship can lead to saving lives.”
Gontarz added that not only does the SDTS effectively test actual weapons systems, but it also contributes to the Navy’s legacy strength.
“The SDTS is in part responsible for enemy missiles that don’t get launched,” he said. “The enemy knows their missiles won’t get close to Navy ships and don’t want to waste them.”
The SDTS master agrees.
“With growing tensions around the world, the ability to research, develop and test against threats is more paramount than ever,” Osiadacz said. “The conventions of naval warfare are changing, and we also need to change to lead the charge.”
| Date Taken: | 09.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2025 13:30 |
| Story ID: | 547184 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 898 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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