Navy honors NSWC Dahlgren Division engineer for pioneering High Power Microwave laboratory

Navy honors NSWC Dahlgren Division engineer for High Power Microwave laboratory achievement

By Jennifer Erickson, NSWCDD Corporate Communications

As threats evolve across the seas, the Navy needs to be confident in directed energy weapon systems deployed to the Fleet. It relies on Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), the Naval Sea Systems Command warfare center for directed energy research, development, testing and evaluation.

NSWCDD is currently focused on High Power Microwave (HPM), prosecuting targets with concentrated bursts of invisible electromagnetic waves designed to degrade, disrupt or destroy electronic systems like computers or navigation systems.

Dr. Andrew Fairbanks, NSWCDD HPM Integration Branch lead engineer, saw a need and created a team to stand up the High Power Microwave Effects Laboratory at the division.

Fairbanks was previously responsible for evaluating adversary weapon systems and determining the correct amount of HPM energy required to achieve the intended results on the target. He used his understanding of conducting that analysis to build the proposal he delivered to Navy sponsors, outlining the High Power Microwave Effects Laboratory. The proposal was accepted and he started assembling his team in 2022 and achieved operational status in 2024. Today, Fairbanks leads a team of one statistician, three newly employed engineers and two embedded contractors in his branch - testing and analyzing data day-in and day-out.

The Navy will recognize Fairbanks by presenting him with the 2026 Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers Award at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 29 at 10 a.m. EST at the Pentagon. The event will be broadcast live at https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37882. This award recognizes his critical contributions to naval warfare and his exceptional engineering and scientific achievement.

"His work directly enhances Navy warfighter effectiveness by providing cutting-edge directed energy weapons to counter evolving threats, ensuring a decisive advantage in all conflicts," the award citation reads.

Fairbanks was surprised by this acknowledgement.

"It is definitely humbling to be able to receive the award - definitely couldn't have done it without the team," he said.

Chris Reichart, Fairbanks' branch head since October 2025, commended the lead engineer for his intelligence and his ability to work with senior leaders, sponsors and partners including the Navy, naval laboratories, Army, Air Force and NSWC Crane Division. The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering has also provided continuous support.

"He has been able to elevate our integrated air and missile defense capabilities," Reichart said. "Andrew's lab is basically verifying that the effectiveness of the weapon system that we are building will do exactly what we claim, so that it is a relevant weapon system today and in the future."

The effectiveness of the weapon system is vital for warfighters. They need to be able to place confidence in data on which they can entrust their lives, said Fairbanks, who has friends in the military.

"Being able to make a contribution that could help them and being able to help the military - I think is very awesome," he said.