NUWC Division, Keyport undersea warfare expert receives National Defense Industry Association Bronze Medal

NUWC Division, Keyport undersea warfare expert receives National Defense Industry Association Bronze Medal

By Frank KaminskiNaval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport

A Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport employee was recently recognized for his work on a Naval Innovation Science and Engineering project enabling the integration of a live range asset into a constructive simulation environment.

Allen Couture, deputy division head of Fleet Warfighting Readiness and Operations at the NUWC Division, Keyport Pacific Detachment in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was awarded the National Defense Industrial Association Bronze Medal Award for Technical Achievement in Undersea Warfare.

He was one of three Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Center employees to receive the award, presented during a ceremony at the Undersea Warfare Fall Conference in Groton, Connecticut.

The NDIA Bronze Medal Award is presented annually to individuals for outstanding achievements in engineering or science within the field of undersea warfare.

Couture was recognized for his work on a collaborative NISE project advancing distributed Test and Evaluation by enabling the integration of a live range asset into a constructive simulation environment.

"To receive the National Defense Industry Association award made me feel valued and respected, but also humbled to be selected as an awardee out of the many thousands of stellar performers within the greater naval research and development establishment that also work within undersea warfare domain," said Couture.

His efforts resulted in significant achievements across multiple Warfare Centers; addressed Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Group One training requirements; identified best practices for Test and Evaluation in support of live, virtual and constructive initiatives; and enhanced NUWC Division, Keyport's underwater range data management system.

Born in Connecticut, Couture moved to Florida with his family at age 10. His interest in undersea warfare was sparked when he was commissioned into the Navy after graduating from Jacksonville University in Florida. Through circumstance and opportunity, USW remained a focus of his career.

"I was detailed to be the anti-submarine warfare officer onboard USS Lake Erie (CG 70) homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii," said Couture. "As a newly commissioned officer, I spent most of my time qualifying in all things surface Navy, but I did get to plan and execute a few multinational anti-submarine warfare exercises and participate in a handful of torpedo exercises. The tour was more of an introduction to undersea warfare."

Couture's Navy career introduced him to the Meteorological and Oceanographic community, where he became immersed in modeling, simulation, and forecasting. His final active duty Navy position, serving as Officer-in-Charge of an oceanographic unit providing tactical oceanographic products to the air community, eventually led him to join NUWC Division, Keyport's team.

Now, with more than 20 years at the command, Couture has distinguished himself as an exceptional leader whose technical efforts and numerous contributions to undersea warfare have significantly contributed to warfighter readiness and mission availability.

"My interest in undersea warfare continued into my career with NUWC [Division, Keyport] during which time I was selected to serve as the Staff Oceanographer for the Theater Undersea Warfare Commander for the Middle Pacific," stated Couture. "Today, I feel privileged to be able to continue to work side-by-side with our undersea warfighters."