USS Doyle Hosts DARPA Visit
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080125-05
Release Date: 1/25/2008 3:07:00 PM
By Ensign Jason Bilbro, USS Doyle Public Affairs
MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Doyle (FFG 39) hosted members of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) to a day at sea, providing them with a tour of the ship and a demonstration of counter-narcotic capabilities Jan. 16.
Cmdr. John M. Zuzich, Doyle's commanding officer, welcomed DARPA Director, Dr. Anthony Tether and 36 other senior DARPA members on board for the half-day demonstration of shipboard operations.
As the ship got underway, visitors familiarized themselves with the ship and talked with Doyle crew members at their sea and anchor stations.
"I spoke with Mark Bennington, director of the Contracts Management Office at DARPA," said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Andrew Pont. "We discussed the ship's weapon systems and how they performed during our last counter-narcotic operation. We also talked about the pros and cons of the 76mm gun and the 25mm guns."
After securing from sea and anchor, Doyle set up for a go-fast (small speedboat) demonstration, put on by Naval Station Mayport's Afloat Training Group. The scenario gave DARPA members a better idea of how difficult it is to detect and detain a small, fast-moving drug boat.
Once the go-fast demonstration was underway, Doyle directed in an SH-60B helicopter from Helicopter Squadron Light 44, flown by Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Penland and Lt. Cody Mann, to demonstrate airborne use of force in dealing with the speedboat. The demonstration culminated with a fly-by of an S-3B aircraft, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Dan Van Meter of Sea Control Squadron 32.
The crew stayed busy throughout the morning, many giving personal guided tours to DARPA members from the various offices.
Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW) Michael Stoodley, Doyle's leading corpsman, gave a tour of Doyle's medical facilities to Dr. Brett Giroir, director, Defense Sciences Office at DARPA and Dr. Greg Kovacs, deputy director of the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) at DARPA.
"Both gentlemen discussed possible improvements for how we do things that could make our lives easier," said Stoodley. "Although we have very limited space, we still have to use equipment like microscopes in our work. The doctors spoke of new advances, such as portable X-ray machines, for example, which would help our situation on the ship immensely. Everyone in our office was thrilled at the possible innovations that were discussed."
Also set up throughout the ship were static displays of visit, board, search, and seizure gear, damage control gear and a station that displayed equipment used for taking biometrics of detainees.
"I talked with Barbara McQuiston, the director of the Strategic Technology Office, and showed her how we process detainees," said Storekeeper 2nd Class (SW) Alvin Leacock. "I walked her through all the steps, and then we discussed the strengths and weaknesses of our available equipment. She was able to easily pinpoint things that would greatly improve our capacity to catalogue information."
Lt. j.g. Ludwig Mann, Doyle's auxiliaries officer, helped give tours to several DARPA members, and said he also gained much from the experience himself.
Mann helped escort senior DARPA military officers including Air Force Col. Victor Lofton, Marine Corps Col. T.C. Moore, and several others on tours of Doyle's engineering spaces.
"We discussed the ship's electrical generation and distribution, propulsion system and auxiliaries systems," said Mann. "Many comparisons were made, as Col. (Lofton) explained the correlation between the ship's systems and that of an aircraft. I honestly never thought I would come away with as much information as I did."
As the tours wound down, the guests joined Doyle's crew for a "steel beach" picnic on the flight deck, prepared by Doyle's culinary specialists.
Dr. Dean Collins, deputy director of DARPA's MTO, found the trip very enlightening.
"I had never been on board a warship before," said Collins. "The trip was very valuable, and I gained a lot of insight as to what the ship has, vice what they could have."
Tether thanked Zuzich and the crew for their efforts, and presented Zuzich with a commemorative medal before departing the ship.
Doyle, homeported in Mayport, Fla., is currently preparing for an upcoming maintenance availability period.
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