NEWPORT – Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport engineer Travis A. McCune, former head of Undersea Warfare Mission Engineering, was accepted into the Department of Defense Senior Leader Development Program, according to a press release.
“Most people haven’t heard of it. It’s next door to the National War College,” McCune said. His fellow students will include professionals from the U.S. Army, Air Force, U.S. Navy, Department of Defense intelligence community and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
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The cohort is comprised of 30 people, and will work to develop real-life Department of Defense solutions. In addition to classroom time, the two-year program includes a four-to-six-month experiential component, in which McCune will work with either the Army or Air Force to further expand his knowledge.
“The point is to do something outside your comfort zone,” McCune said. A 2001 computer engineering graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he is a resident of North Kingstown.
The highly competitive program offers both classroom and experiential training, according to the NUWC. It begins this month, at the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, part of the National Defense University.
“This holistic approach will empower participants to think strategically, envision what is on the horizon and formulate proactive, competitive solutions that produce results for the DoD and the nation,” the program’s overview states.
“What’s just as important as the real-world projects you work on are the contacts you make with future leaders from other services. Those connections and the networks you establish become increasingly important as you progress in your career,” said Donald McCormack, executive director, Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers.
Part of NAVSEA, NUWC Division Newport is one of two divisions of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. It provides research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines and autonomous underwater systems.
Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.
