Photo By Sarah Peterson | Jeff Harris (left), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) senior test engineer,...... read more read more
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) highlighted its latest advancements in defense technology at the Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exposition, held April 7-9, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. As the premier maritime exposition in the United States, Sea-Air-Space provided an ideal platform for NRL to demonstrate its innovative contributions to national defense.
NRL’s exhibit featured a range of pioneering technologies aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The OmniGlobe is a large, illuminated spherical display that visualizes Earth’s environmental data—atmosphere, oceans, and geophysics— and shows natural interconnections. NRL’s Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Branch, developed software to convert our system images into the specific format required for the globe. NRL developed the software that created the content being shown.
An expert on NRL’s Maritime Domain Awareness tool, PROTEUS, provided demonstrations for attendees. PROTEUS provides near real-time global tracking and analysis of maritime vessels using multiple data sources.
“We’re working with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement on a project at Flower Garden Banks to help identify Illegal fishing activity,” said Jeff Harris, Senior Software Test Engineer, and member of NRL PROTEUS team. “Our role is to integrate data from multiple sources and visualize it for operations in real time.”
NRL’s Scientific Development Squadron ONE, or VXS-1, was on site to talk with attendees about global airborne science missions to support Navy research and tech development with customized aircraft platforms.
“If someone wants to test equipment and it fits on the plane our project specialists can reconfigure the aircraft for just about any mission,” said Lt. Sean Carpenter, a naval flight officer with VXS-1. “A great example of that is a project we worked on with the NOPP Hurricane Coastal Impacts, where we deployed sensor buoys to improve hurricane forecasting. We flew low to the water and launched buoys out of the main cabin door to gather real-time data that can help save lives.”
Several models of coronagraphs were on display with experts to talk about solar imaging sensors that detect solar plasma and forecast space weather impacts on Earth.
“NRL has been building coronagraphs since the mid-1960s,” said Damien Chua, physicist with NRL’s Space Science Division. “In fact, in 1971, our instrument made the first optical detection of a coronal mass ejection.”
“As we deploy more systems in space and the air, space weather will increasingly impact performance and reliability—so raising awareness is critical,” Chua added.
“Now NRL has our nation’s first solar coronagraph for operations—dedicated to providing real-time data for NOAA’s space weather forecasts, supporting both civil and military operations,” he said.
Other exhibits included:
NRL’s participation underscored its commitment to advancing defense technologies across multiple domains. The event facilitated valuable discussions and collaborations with industry leaders and military decision-makers, reinforcing NRL’s role in shaping the future of maritime operations.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel. NRL offers several mechanisms for collaborating with the broader scientific community, within and outside of the Federal government. These include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), LP-CRADAs, Educational Partnership Agreements, agreements under the authority of 10 USC 4892, licensing agreements, FAR contracts, and other applicable agreements. For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at mailto:NRLPAO@us.navy.mil.
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2025 09:54 |
| Story ID: | 551899 |
| Location: | NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 4 |
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