NSWC Crane hosts Strategic Command’s senior leader

CRANE, Ind. – Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) hosted Adm. Charles Richard, the Commander of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) to learn more about Crane’s support to the Strategic Mission area, February 23, 2021. Capt. McKay, the Commanding Officer of NSWC Crane, says the visit was a great opportunity to show the impact of Crane’s expertise to USSTRATCOM. “It was a pleasure to host ADM Richard and show him the efforts of our workforce in Strategic Missions, Electronic Warfare, and Expeditionary Warfare,” says Capt. McKay. “Adm. Richard saw first-hand how the technology and initiatives taking place at Crane support USSTRATCOM.” USSTRATCOM is one of eleven unified commands in the Department of Defense (DoD), which includes all four branches of the military. Adm. Richard is the leader, steward, and advocate of the nation’s strategic capabilities. Adm. Richard says the visit to Crane was beneficial. “It was great to meet and see what the Crane workforce is developing in key technology areas,” says Adm. Richard. “Innovation is crucial in order to overcome future challenges.” Monica Hutchins, the Chief Strategist for Strategic Missions at NSWC Crane, says Crane’s long history of support to the nuclear triad integrates a wide variety of expertise. “The Navy is the most survivable leg of the nuclear triad,” says Hutchins. “The nuclear triad modernization efforts have many moving pieces, and many technical capabilities woven throughout the weapon systems. Crane supplies that expertise through our work with not only Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) on the Navy side, but also Air Force and Missile Defense Agency.” Hutchins says current efforts are critical to future challenges. “All these components make up the Nation’s Strategic Deterrence, and it is a no fail mission,” says Hutchins. “Given the rise of near-peer adversaries, leveraging the best minds with innovative partnership mechanisms is key to timely transition and fielding of technology.” The previous USSTRATCOM commander, Gen. Hyten, visited Crane, and this visit is a continuation of that engagement. In 2019, NSWC Crane celebrated sixty years of providing innovative solutions to the SSP. SSP is responsible for the development, production, and life cycle support of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Strategic Weapons System (SWS) – the nation’s primary strategic deterrent. USSTRATCOM integrates and coordinates the necessary command and control capability to provide support with the most accurate and timely information for the President, the Secretary of Defense, other national leadership and combatant commanders. “NSWC Crane supports USSTRATCOM in its efforts to provide safety and security of our nation,” says Capt. McKay. “We look forward to continuing to support these efforts into the future.” The mission of USSTRATCOM is to deter strategic attack and employ forces, as directed, to guarantee the security of our Nation and our Allies. The command's assigned responsibilities include strategic deterrence, nuclear operations, space operations, joint electronic spectrum operations, global strike, missile defense, and analysis and targeting. USSTRATCOM's forces and capabilities underpin and enable all other Joint Force operations. USSTRATCOM combines the synergy of the U.S. legacy nuclear command and control mission with responsibility for space operations, global strike, and global missile defense. This dynamic command gives national leadership a unified resource for greater understanding of specific threats around the world and the means to respond to those threats rapidly. About NSWC Crane NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter. Join Our Team! NAVSEA employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce - from students and entry level employees to experienced professionals and individuals with disabilities. We support today's sophisticated Navy and Marine Corps ships, aircraft, weapon systems and computer systems. We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists, IT and cyber specialists, as well as trade and other support professionals to ensure the U.S. Navy can protect and defend America. Please contact NSWC Crane Human Resources at crane_recruiting@navy.mil.