“The Top Tier of the Business Development/Proposals Game”

Michael Miga, a proposal manager at HII’s Mission Technologies division, received an Impact Award for his leadership on Mission Technologies’ 2022 FEDSIM Bids.

“FEDSIMs are the top tier of the business development/proposals game,” Miga said. “They are massive, complex and often dynamic efforts that take weeks and months of a team’s time, energy, creativity and commitment. FEDSIM opportunities provide Mission Technologies with some of the most important contracts for continued and new business areas. Our ability to win FEDSIMs establishes us as a high-confidence partner with our government customers and a formidable competitor with our industry peers.”

Michael was nominated by James Sawyer, who wrote, in part: “Mike has been a major contributor in more of the FEDSIM bids in 2021 and 2022 than possibly anyone else. He was proposal manager for me on DMATS and Bold Venture, and without him, those bids would not be near the quality of product that was delivered. … Mike has gone far beyond expectations.”

Miga said he is “very honored and humbled” to be recognized.

“I don’t feel that I did anything more than what many of my other coworkers would have done in a similar set of situations,” he said. “If I could share this award with my team, I certainly would, as we have all worked hard and supported each other. … I cannot stress enough how important my team has been to Mission Technologies’ success.”

C5ISR and Fleet Sustainment Teams Collaborate to Deliver Vertical Launch System Upgrade

In a remarkable display of collaboration and innovation, Mission Technologies’ C5ISR and Fleet Sustainment business groups achieved a significant milestone that not only bolsters our U.S. naval capabilities but also solidifies our reputation as a leader in “best-in-class” customer experience. Their efforts culminated in the successful development, test, installation and integration of Universal Canister Electronic Units (UCEUs) for the MK 57 Vertical Launch System (VLS) onboard the destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001).

Because of their work, the team received an Impact Award for Service Delivery.

The Challenge

The Navy’s request for UCEU integration presented a formidable challenge: reducing a process that typically takes multiple years to a matter of months. HII’s C5ISR engineering expertise, coupled with Fleet Sustainment’s shipboard knowledge, proved to be the winning combination.

Within three days of being notified of the need, HII had a team onsite to layout potential solutions. Even though the teams had not collaborated before, they swiftly proposed a comprehensive engineering and modernization solution, showcasing HII as a ‘one-stop shop’ for customer needs.

Working diligently with two shifts, seven days a week, the team overcame numerous hurdles – including limited installation details, an aggressive schedule, and lack of planning yard oversight. Thanks to the hard work of the HII team, the UCEU ordnance alteration (ORDALT) was completed ahead of schedule.

The Team Behind the Success

The team’s work reflects exceptional performance and enabled HII to be renowned for ‘best-in-class’ customer experience. Key team members include: Nikki Chatman-Nietzel, Brian Eckam, Geraldo Francia, Jeremias Gonzales, Brian Guntharp, David Hadcock, Joe Hill, Earl Judge, Kaleb Kang, Craig Keicher, Nicholas Lyons, Alex Mitchell, Hai Nguyen, Rafael Pena, Jeremy Rossman, Brayden Villa and Ryan Willsey.

According to Chatman-Nietzel, VLS program manager, “The HII Team’s mantra is: ‘We don’t miss milestones.’ I am proud of the way our dedicated team responded with cohesive all hands-on deck approach to identify all options for achieving the original schedule.”

Opening New Horizons

The successful completion of the upgrade led to an add-on task to install the VLS GPS Integrator system on the USS Michael Monsoor. The team has been asked to bid anther larger module installation at the Naval Station Port Hueneme, which potentially will open up a new market for HII.

Tim McCue, vice president of operations in Fleet Sustainment, was one of the team’s nominators. “By collaborating and leveraging our capabilities,” he said, “we were able to turn something that was a gleam in our customer’s eye into reality.”

“What This Team Has Accomplished … Has Never Been Done Before”

In today’s business world, “office environment” can mean many different things—from traditional to virtual to … underground. For members of the Nevada National Security Sites U1A HII Management Team, far below the earth’s surface in a subterranean laboratory is exactly where they conduct their day’s work, ensuring the reliability and safety of the United States’ nuclear weapons stockpile. 

Located in Nevada, NNSS is a laboratory, national experimental center and training facility that encompasses an area equivalent to the state of Rhode Island. The site was originally established in the early 1950s for nuclear weapons testing.

The U1a Complex is located 90 miles from Las Vegas and is an underground laboratory mine, situated 965 feet below the earth’s surface, that is used for subcritical and physics experiments to support the National Nuclear Security Administration’s stockpile stewardship program. In fact, it is the only underground test facility in the United States capable of conducting testing in support of the program.

The HII Management Team, comprising employees Stacey Alderson, Christine Hutson, David Welliver and site lead John Contardi, is responsible for the safe and effective operation of the NNSS. Members not only effectively run the facility, they also develop new processes and improvements to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the U1a complex.

Vince Gomes, deputy director of facility engineering, nominated the team for an Impact Award to acknowledge the significant contributions it has made to the U1a Complex.

“What this team has accomplished with the testing and construction has never been done before at NNSS and demonstrates the capability of the sites for future use,” Gomes said. “I am extremely proud of this team and what they have accomplished in support of the Department of Energy’s mission.”

The HII team took a holistic look at the U1a complex and focused the rest of the organization on a myriad of simultaneous efforts to modernize the sites to support the mission. These included construction, subclinical experiments and facility infrastructure improvements.

Welliver, speaking on behalf of the team, emphasized the importance of their work as it pertains to national security. “We appreciate the recognition for the team’s hard work,” he said, “to make sure U1a can support the stockpile stewardship mission.”