NEWPORT, R.I. — Nils A. Sjostrom, retired director of undersea warfare at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Headquarters in Newport, Rhode Island, received the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award at a luncheon given in his honor on Oct. 25. The award is the second highest honorary civilian award bestowed by the Navy.
Sjostrom, a resident of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, began his career with 30 years of active duty service in the U.S. Navy. After retiring as a captain, he joined the civilian service at NUWC where his 20-year career elevated the prominence of the Navy and Submarine Force through countless well-timed improvements in weapons and submarine systems to provide Sailors with the finest and most current warfighting capabilities. He retired from NUWC on Oct. 31.
Sjostrom’s citation reads:
“As the Director of Undersea Warfare, Mr. Sjostrom was a major catalyst for active and successful fleet engagement to further undersea warfare at all levels within the Navy. He fostered a broad-spectrum of partnerships as a means to improve performance through collaboration and developed a vision for full-spectrum warfare emanating from, and exploiting, the undersea domain. Mr. Sjostrom’s leadership talents, resourcefulness and dedication to improving undersea warfare capabilities resulted in more capable and affordable weapons systems in the timeliest manner for Today’s Navy, Tomorrow’s Navy and the Navy after Next. These contributions illustrated Mr. Sjostrom’s substantial and noteworthy service to the United States Navy.”
NUWC is a shore command of the U.S. Navy within the Naval Sea Systems Command, which engineers, builds and supports America’s fleet of ships and combat systems. NUWC provides research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems, and countermeasures associated with undersea warfare.