Photo By Jay Butterbaugh | NSWCPD Technical Director Nigel C. Thijs, SES, presents Thomas M. Miller with the...... read more read more
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Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) celebrated more than 150 employees at its Fiscal Year 2025 Fourth Quarter Awards Ceremony, a gathering marked by gratitude, pride, and recognition of excellence throughout the command on Sept. 11, 2025.
NSWCPD Awards Program Manager Celynda Cortez welcomed attendees and served as emcee, leading an event where department heads presented career service certificates and special recognition awards that honor the dedication and achievements shaping the organization’s impact.
September 11 provided a meaningful setting for this year’s ceremony, quietly reminding attendees of the spirit of unity and resilience following the attacks that continue to shape the NSWCPD community. Technical Director Nigel C. Thijs, SES, set the tone with remarks that encouraged reflection on these enduring values, helping frame the celebration as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a tribute to the shared mission of service and mentorship, and reminding the audience that the Navy’s success is built on the dedication of its professionals, whose everyday service advances the mission and strengthens the organization.
“Every success our command achieves is because of the people. Today is about you, the people who make the command successful. Thank you for bringing your best every day,” Thijs said.
NSWCPD employees receiving Career Service Awards included six with 40 years of service, three with 35 years of service, one with 30 years of service, and 11 with 25 years of service. The printed program also highlighted the 15 employees with 20 years of service, 38 employees with 15 years of service, and 66 with 10 years of service.
The ceremony’s focus extended beyond career milestones as it honored Scientist and Engineering Development Program (SEDP) graduates, a Navy Civilian Service Award recipient, and select NSWCPD employees for exemplary work.
Celia Neveu, Sean McGarrity, G. Malek Smith, James Sturniolo, Rylie McBreen, Kellen Rice, Keina Thorpe, Timothy Groves, and Brian Lau received certificates honoring their graduation from SEDP. SEDP is a professional development program designed for all entry-level employees in engineering, physical science, mathematics, and related STEM fields, with a focus on training, mentorship, and development assignments.
Thomas M. Miller received the Department of the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal. The award is in recognition of his exceptional professional achievement while serving as the Machinery Silencing Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Lead for the Columbia-class Submarine Program and his dedication throughout his 40-year career. His visionary leadership and technical expertise were essential to developing and implementing innovative quieting technologies and methodologies, crucial for maintaining the U.S. Navy’s strategic advantage in undersea warfare by advancing the state of the art in submarine stealth. His contributions to Columbia Class, a cornerstone of the Nation’s strategic deterrent, directly enhanced the platform’s survivability and mission effectiveness in an increasingly complex global security environment.
Mark Grant was presented with his plaque for the Admiral Stan Arthur Award for Logistics and Sustainment Excellence Award for his groundbreaking contributions to Navy logistics through the development of the Spare Parts Analysis for Readiness Assessment (SPARTA) process.
Adam Baylor, Allison DeRocco, Carl Joyce, and Christopher Pargola of the Below Waterline Structural Assessment Team received Letters of Appreciation for their dedicated efforts and outstanding support in rapidly assessing and restoring USS Billings to an acceptable condition from damage from an allision.
Letters of Appreciation were awarded to Walaa El Masri, Colin Hartey, Jacob Lesniak, and Bryan Reed of the Based Product Support Team for their exceptional efforts during the Recent Model Base Product Support Pre-Audit and subsequent Configuration Audit on USS Pierre, which is instrumental to the success of the program and the Navy fleet’s readiness.
While the ceremony highlighted many impressive accomplishments, it also served as a reminder that the influence of those who lead by example—mentors, innovators, and role models —extends well beyond their technical contributions. Each honoree’s journey reflects the strength of a workforce built on collaboration, integrity, and a shared commitment to excellence.
NSWCPD employs approximately 2,800 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel. The NSWCPD team does research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for the non-nuclear machinery, ship machinery systems, and related equipment and material for Navy surface ships and submarines. The NSWCPD is also the lead organization responsible for providing cybersecurity for all ship systems.
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2025 13:29 |
| Story ID: | 551391 |
| Location: | PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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