NSWC PCD engineer enhances critical infrastructure, strengthens Naval foundation

NSWC PCD engineer enhances critical infrastructure, strengthens Naval foundation

By Jeremy Roman, NSWC PCD Public Affairs

To maintain a dominant naval presence in the face of evolving threats, ensuring the resilience and modernization of critical infrastructure is paramount. At Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), individuals like Terence Mahoney, an infrastructure support engineer, are at the forefront of this crucial mission, directly bolstering the force behind the fleet in the complex littoral battlespace.

Mahoney, though relatively new to the command, brings a wealth of experience to this critical role. A Florida State University graduate with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, his career spans both private and public sectors, encompassing project management and civil engineering leadership positions, much of which is rooted in the local area. His expertise is now focused on fortifying the very foundation upon which naval operations depend.

His responsibilities are multifaceted: planning and designing complex construction and renovation projects, conducting site surveys, developing detailed cost estimations, and crafting comprehensive project specifications. He also serves as a technical expert for contracting officers, ensuring that contract negotiations, oversight, and administration align with the Navy's stringent requirements and budgetary constraints.

Even in his first year, Mahoney's impact has been immediate. He developed two essential project packages and played a key role in the recent groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of-the-art warfighter support Subsea & Seabed Warfare facility-a facility designed to enhance the Navy's ability to control the critical undersea environment, serve as a hub for research, development, testing, and evaluation of autonomous unmanned systems, and will provide direct access to the Gulf of America for the launch and recovery of unmanned systems being developed.

"Contributing to the building and sustaining of the physical infrastructure is important to me because it is work with purpose and meaning, which is supporting the fleet and warfighter," said Mahoney. "You get to see your work go from an idea that started with a customer request to a renovated, modernized or new facility with the distinct purpose of supporting the NSWC PCD mission and associated programs."

Mahoney's effectiveness lies in his ability to combine technical proficiency with strong customer service and teamwork, dynamically addressing the fleet's ever-evolving needs. His team tackles a diverse range of challenges, from conducting site inspections for facility engineering evaluations to collaborating with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command and contractors on military construction projects.

A prime example of Mahoney's impact is his work on the Titan Project, supporting NSWC PCD's Joint and Expeditionary Command and Control (JEXC2) team. The JEXC2 family of systems is critical for military operations, providing essential command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) capabilities. The Titan Project's utility and site improvements directly contribute to a more resilient and reliable C4I infrastructure for the fleet.

"I developed the construction package for the Titan Project, which is directly supporting the fleet," Mahoney explained. "The scope involved a substantial portion of utility and site improvement work, which are some of my areas of knowledge. However, there were other aspects of the project that required me to step outside of knowledge base. Working through various physical and budgetary constraints, we developed a project package that has been awarded, and we anticipate commencing construction activities soon."

His efforts directly help the command overcome challenges and support NAVSEA's strategic goals to strengthen the foundation through on-time and on-budget delivery of critical resources.

"Every day, [our team is] building and sustaining physical infrastructure and I enjoy the variety of work here because there are always new and different issues that require solutions. One day I might be performing a site inspection or facility engineering evaluation to remove a mezzanine because the customer has a new mission. Another day I might hold a meeting with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command and contractors…for one of our military construction projects or work with our contracts department in contractor proposal negotiations to get the project award costs within the budgetary limit," he said. "All these actions are customer focused to ensure the NSWC PCD mission and associated programs continue supporting Naval Sea Systems Command, the fleet, and the warfighter."

Mahoney's dedication to enhancing critical infrastructure at NSWC PCD directly contributes to a stronger, more resilient, and more capable Navy. His expertise in civil engineering, combined with his commitment to serving the warfighter, makes him an invaluable asset in safeguarding naval assets and ensuring operational readiness. His work is a testament to the importance of investing in the physical infrastructure that underpins naval power, ensuring that the fleet remains ready to meet any challenge.