WASHINGTON — The Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office within Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) received two 2018 Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Awards during a ceremony Oct. 16 at the Pentagon, Naval Sea Systems Command said in a release.
The Acquisition Excellence Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in the acquisition of products and services for the Navy and Marine Corps. This year, 14 awards were given. Award winners represent the very best of professionalism, ingenuity and accomplishment among their peers — the more than 63,000 members of the acquisition workforce.
“These awards reflect a great team effort across the PEO, system command and industry to accelerate, innovate, and deliver new capabilities to the fleet,” said Rear Adm. John Neagley, PEO USC commander.
The Dr. Al Somoroff Acquisition Award was given to the program office for outstanding acquisition achievement in the accomplishment of its mission to include creative/effective acquisition management practices, outstanding resource management and personnel growth and retention.
The Competition Excellence Acquisition Team of the Year award recognizes the Orca Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle acquisition and contracting team. The team included not only program office members, but also Naval Sea Systems Command’s leadership, cost engineering and industrial analysis division, contracts directorate, legal, and submarine/submersible design and systems engineering; Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Carderock Division; and Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command’s Systems Center Pacific. The award recognizes an acquisition team whose outstanding achievement brings increased competition in contracting resulting in cost savings or avoidance, a better product and a lasting positive impact on the organization and Department of Navy mission.
“These awards reflect the dedicated efforts of a great team of professionals focused on delivering unmanned capability and discovering acquisition best practices,” said Capt. Peter Small, Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office program manager. “Continuous dialogue among stakeholders, early and frequent coordination with industry, and effective and ongoing planning were essential to our success.”
PEO USC, part of Naval Sea Systems Command, provides the fleet with a package of warfighting capabilities within two variants of the littoral combat ship (LCS). With LCSs based on the East and West coasts, each ship is dedicated to one of three missions — antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare and mine countermeasures.
