Congratulations to NSWCDD  and the Project Dragon Spear Team on their win of the 15th Annual William J. Perry Award from the Precision Strike Association!

Source: Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division - News. Date: 2011-02-23

The Project Dragon Spear Joint Acquisition Task Force Team was awarded the 15th Annual William J. Perry Award at the annual Precision Strike Association Review on 23 February, in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.

The Perry Award recognizes leadership or achievement that results in significant contributions to the development, introduction or support of precision strike systems. The Dragon Spear team was cited for significant contributions that have led to the strengthening of our national security by direct application of precision strike capabilities to Department of Defense (DoD) systems and to the enhancement of our industrial technology base for application to precision strike technology.

The Dragon Spear team, which includes members from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, is a consortium of high energy teams led by United States Special Operation Command (USSOCOM) that were brought together to rapidly field Dragon Spear under a Combat Mission Need Statement (CMNS).

The Precision Strike Association recognized the team’s “unique acquisition approach which wasincredibly effective in delivering two fully combat-capable MC-130W aircraft in less than 10 months.” Also noted was the team’s ability to develop a fully functional mission simulator in less than eight months to support early combat training. A follow-on production speed line to modify three MC-130Ws simultaneously enabled the team to beat by three months the Defense Secretary’s goal of eight aircraft in 18 months.”

DragonSpear is a new program to augment the current AC-130 force structure. Under this program, 12 MC-130W aircraft will be fitted with a Precision Strike Package (PSP). The fielding of this armed MC-130W Dragon Spear asan armed overwatch platform is urgently needed to support current and expected combat operations.

Team members from the Dahlgren Division include scientists, engineers, and technical support personnel from the Engagement Systems Department’s Gun Weapon Systems Branch (G32), Gun Fire Control System Development (G34), Weapon Control SystemsDevelopment Branch (G84), and Test & Evaluation Division (G60) and G80; and the Asymmetric Defense Systems Department’s Surveillance Systems Branch (Z17). Through their collaborative effort, they built thehardware and software that comprise the Weapon System portion of the PSP for Dragon Spear. Of the 12 aircraft, 8 were fielded in 18 months with 2 of those currently supporting combat operations.

"I am honored to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the Dahlgren Dragon Spear Team,” said Dragon Spear Team lead Daniel Thomas, who shared his thoughts in a recent interview. “This team has the most dedicated and talented people I have worked with in my career. Through this team's long hours and perseverance, Dahlgren Division has been able to contribute to fielding a capability to the warfighter that is havingan impact and saving American lives."

Thomas explained that this was not the first award for this effort. Previously, the Stand-Off Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) Team,which included Dahlgren Division team members, was awarded the 13th Annual Perry Award, DoD's 2008 David Packard Award, and 2008 ACTD Transition Team of the Year.

Dragon Spear’s innovative design and developmentapproach lay the ground work for enabling rapid transition to the fieldfor other USSOCOM needs. According to a certificate signed by Andy McHugh, Precision Strike Association Board Chairman, “The Dragon Spear Joint Acquisition Force Team has embraced unconventional thinking from an entrepreneurship approach to systems integration, slashing costs and time….and has exemplified the highest ideals of the Precision Strike Association.”

James (Hondo) Geurts, USSOCOM Deputy Director for Acquisition, commended the team for “the hard work, dedication, prudent audacity, and teamwork shown throughout the last two years to lead the way in DoD and Special Operations Forces rapid acquisition.”

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