1. The Whidbey-island class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), the amphibious transport dock
ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD
6) participate in a replenishment-at-sea with fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO 197). Bonhomme
Richard, Ashland, and Green Bay are part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). (U.S.
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron McCulloch/ Released)
By Stephen McIver
Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division hosts a variety of engagement programs for
employees, including programs intended to bring newly graduated scientists and engineers
into the NAWCWD family. The Engineer and Scientist Development Program is one such
opportunity, providing those new to the workforce a valuable opportunity to actually apply
their knowledge in real-time, rotational assignments.
In other words, they get to build experience in a number of areas, learning about different
available work assignments and divisions at NAWCWD. Sometimes, they also get a taste
of something brand new – like what life aboard a Navy ship is like.
Stephen McIver is an ESDP participant at NAWCWD Point Mugu; this is his story.
ESDPs at NAWCWD at Point Mugu Navy are required to try out different jobs positions with
different groups around base. In January, I joined the Electronic Warfare Battle
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August 12, 2015
My life with the Engineer and Scientist Development Program

2. different groups around base. In January, I joined the Electronic Warfare Battle
Management experiment team, expecting to help develop a JAVA program to integrate
Navy electronic warfare ship data into the Marine Air Ground Task Force Intrepid Tiger
electronic warfare display. As with everything in life, nothing went as expected.
Programming development began to take a back seat to technical integration issues. We
needed documentation about what parts of the ship would be changed for the experiment,
and we needed accreditation as well. My focus shifted, and I began to play a role in many
different aspects of the experiment, rather than just focusing on JAVA.
Learning what goes into all the paperwork, the details of systems integration, and the
amount of collaboration needed to work effectively with the Fleet was insightful, but by far
the most valuable experience I took away came from the 10 days I spent aboard the USS
Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6).
I learned about things people never mention when they talk about being on a big deck ship.
Everyone teases you about how you’re going to get seasick. What they don’t tell you is that
when the seas are rough, you are going to be playing a real life game of pinball, only you’re
the ball.
Or maybe it’s more like Labyrinth, the game where you run a ball through a maze by tilting
the board, avoiding holes all along the path. That’s what it’s like trying to navigate through
the body of a ship. Only, you are the ball and you want to make it through the holes – the
doors and hatches between the different sections – and you can’t control how the “game”
is being tilted.
There were many instances where I failed at this game, smacking into the walls as the ship
rocked beneath me. This was definitely a common occurrence, especially when there was
a call to “Darken Ship.” Darken Ship exercises are conducted daily to ensure sure there is
no light coming from inside the ship that will be seen from the outside. Light shining
through the hull at night would give away the ship’s location and could disrupt night
operations. Red lights are ok, adding to the “video game” feel of trying to navigate at night.
Moving about the ship at any time can be challenging, especially if you’re in a hurry. About
every 20 yards, you run into a pressurized hatch that requires a two-step process to open.
First there is a large arm that unseals the hatch, then there is a small latch that keeps the
door from just flying open. If you are trying to get from the back of the ship (aft) to the front
of the ship (fore), you must navigate many of these doors, opening them, getting through
them, sealing them behind you, then moving on to the next. Other, more seasoned ship
riders had their rhythms down, quickly opening and closing the latches and hatches as they
went. As a new rider, it took a while, especially when carrying equipment.
And then there is this thing called “flight quarters,” which restricts access to some areas
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My life with the Engineer and Scientist Development Program

3. and gets personnel into position to ensure safe flight operations. For me, flight quarters had
its ups and downs. I couldn’t walk around the flight deck, which made it difficult to get from
one end of the ship to the other quickly. However it also meant that, if I had some down
time, I could grab some ear plugs and head to Vulture’s Row, an observation deck. From
there, you can look out and see the different birds – aircraft to us non-military types – take
off.
Ships like the Bonhomme Richard can carry MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, CH-53 Sea
Stallion helicopters, AV-8B Harrier jets and others. But knowing they are aboard the ship
is much different from experiencing them taking off from the ship. When the helicopters
take off, it can feel like you are going to be chopped into pieces. The turbulent air washes
over you and pushes you back as they take off; it was an awesome feeling. When the
Harriers take off you need ear muffs in addition to ear plugs, they are so loud! They leave
a smoke cloud and you feel the rumble throughout the ship.
After spending many hours over several days setting up our experiment systems, I got
close with the ship’s Fire Controlmen (FC)These are the people who help to maintain the
systems that fire off defensive measures like Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), and they
were critical to our set-up. Soon, I began hanging out with them during their off-hours.
Something that really caught me off guard is that during their off hours they mostly hang
out in their work spaces. There aren’t many special lounges or things to do for
entertainment, other than the gym, which for them is a form of entertainment, it seemed.
The ship’s gym was full of cardio equipment like treadmills and elliptical trainers, but when I
hopped on the treadmill and selected a “steady pace” setting, I got a workout that was
more like “cross-hill-trainer” due to the rocking motion of the ship.
I had the honor of spending Independence Day aboard the ship, side-by-side with the
Sailors and Marines forward deployed to defend that independence. I had the opportunity
to spend several hours chatting with Marine engineers. I learned pretty quickly that for
Marines, being an engineer meant something entirely different. These engineers were less
interested in systems design and programming and more interested in “How do I make a
hole quickly with some explosives?”
The ship also organized some fun events for the crew, including bringing everyone
together for a barbecue on the flight deck. This was a special treat, as the crew is normally
segregated by rank at meal time with a flag mess, wardroom, and mess hall.
The rank structure was also something I had to learn about. There are enlisted members
and officers, and although officers are always “in charge” of enlisted personnel, they may
have only two or three years of experience while the enlisted member may have 15 or
more. Senior enlisted members are shown respect for their experience, even if they are
required salute and call the younger officers “sir.” Honestly it is a bit weird to see these two
sides of the structure, but I think in the end it works out well. Experience and education
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My life with the Engineer and Scientist Development Program

4. sides of the structure, but I think in the end it works out well. Experience and education
work to balance each other.
It was great being on the ship because I learned so many things about the military, and this
was a great experience for me to have near the beginning of my career at NAWCWD. I
believe I will be better able to relate to customer feedback about products that we design
for the Fleet. I have an understanding of who we need to talk to for which type of
problems, and I really have a much better grasp of how the military operates. I’m very glad
I got this opportunity to help the EWBM experiment team.
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(760) 939-3511
NAVAIR News Release
NAWCWD Public Affairs
China Lake, CA
August 12, 2015
My life with the Engineer and Scientist Development Program