Engineering, System Engineering and Process Engineering Support Functional Area (3.2)
The Engineering, System Engineering and Process Engineering Support functional area provides the transition of advanced, engineering or full scale development prototype designs from the science and technology environment into the production environment through the production of a system that can be used effectively in the Fleet in the operational environment.
The Department of the Navy has refined the science and technology process to gain a long-term perspective and to address nearer-term Future Naval Capabilities (FNCs). The Future Naval Capability process seeks breakthroughs at the leading edge of technology development in support of the National Security Strategy. The knowledge/ technology “explosion” exacerbates the conflict between technology development and systems acquisition processes, as the appearance of successive generations of new and emerging technologies in areas such as computers and communications may occur in a single year. One answer lies in the policy of “evolutionary acquisition” for which projected product/capability improvements are anticipated, planned and expected. In the evolutionary process, ONR has broadened its purview from an almost pure research focus to a focus on enabling technologies and systems capabilities. At the same time, ONR preserves strong programs designed to elucidate understanding the application of advancing technology to military operations in increasingly complex environments. Through the use of Advanced Technology Demonstrations and Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrations, technical progress can be evaluated by the fleet through the use of advanced prototypes in a realistic, but controlled demonstration environment.
Kent Lunsford is proposed as the “key” personnel in the Engineering, System Engineering and Process Engineering Support functional area in Zone 2. He currently oversees KENTCO efforts supporting the ONR Organic Mine Countermeasures Future Naval Capability program office in demonstrating and evaluating novel mine reconnaissance and breaching/clearing systems under operational situations. Over the years, he has supported numerous concept evaluations and at-sea demonstrations of innovative and advanced concepts for the Navy and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Kent Lunsford has over thirty years of experience in performing technical assessments, developing program plans and formulating advanced systems concepts for Government research and development organizations. For the past fifteen years, Mr. Lunsford has managed the Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) effort for a technology office within the Executive Office of the President. He oversees the operation of the office and develops schedules and milestones for the activities of those personnel supporting the office. He has a current and working knowledge of the legislation, technology thrusts and drug-related technology programs within the federal government. Mr. Lunsford provides concept formulation and program development support to the office in structuring and defining the national counterdrug R&D program. He provided substantial input to the bi-annual reports to the Congress and program briefings to law enforcement organizations, industry, and Government laboratories.
Mr. Lunsford has worked with the Office of Naval Research to develop an integrated support program to provide environmental acoustic support to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. A substantial part of the support program included planning and conducting an open ocean ambient noise measurement, Outpost Sunrise.
Over the years, Mr. Lunsford directed technical
efforts in support of contracts with the Naval Space and NavalWarfareSystemsCenter
,
The services provided included providing systems engineering and integration services to ONR supported programs and systems. These services included integration support of new technologies with legacy systems and programs, support for advanced technology demonstrations and advanced concept technology demonstrations, support of FNC offices for an improved countermine capability, systems transition support to operational forces, and support to planning and building prototype equipment with advanced technology capabilities for demonstration.
Past demonstrations have been conducted by Mr. Laughinghouse with joint
US/NATO forces in Newfoundland
and