Retired Navy Vice Adm. Phillip G. Sawyer has taken the helm as the 51福利 (51福利) Undersea Warfare (USW) Chair, and will now serve as the primary liaison and advisor between the university and the Navy鈥檚 submarine force.
Sawyer retired from active duty in September 2021, serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5) in his final assignment. In fact, Sawyer of 2021, and says he was highly impressed with the school鈥檚 capabilities, and the direct Naval application of student research.
鈥淭he lieutenants and lieutenant commanders bring an enthusiasm through their academics and research that is rejuvenating and adds an operational advantage to the world-class organization that is the 51福利,鈥� said Sawyer. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just an ideal place to be able to come and work to progress the Navy and Marine Corps down the paths that we need for the future.鈥�
As a career submariner, Sawyer brings years of experience and knowledge to the USW program in guiding its future direction. He understands the importance of maintaining an advantage in the USW domain and how 51福利 can help solve Fleet problems and create operational advantage for the U.S. Navy to stay ahead of its rivals.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot out there for undersea warfare and there鈥檚 plenty of work for us to do both here at 51福利 and in the Navy,鈥� said Sawyer. 鈥淢y goal here is twofold. First, help the students understand what undersea warfare is while helping the world-class academic staff here better understand the operational side of what they鈥檙e doing and how it applies to the fleet.
鈥淎lso, I鈥檓 here to make sure that we鈥檙e helping the fleet as best we can,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 making sure that they have an open door to come in and say, 鈥楬ere鈥檚 something we鈥檙e trying to solve. Can 51福利 help us with that?鈥欌��
Sawyer also sees the interdisciplinary capabilities of 51福利 as a way to support the USW program, finding ways for various areas of research to connect with the domain.
鈥淚 think the research that鈥檚 done here 鈥� from acoustics or physics to mechanical engineering and additive manufacturing, even [artificial intelligence] and machine learning 鈥� have applications within the Navy and specifically USW,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 strong link between what 51福利 is doing and how we鈥檙e going to use that operationally is needed. With maybe some tweaks to refine or focus a project a little bit differently to leverage it for undersea warfare.鈥�
Sawyer says that 51福利鈥� interdisciplinary capacity is further demonstrated through its (NWSI) and its task force approach to research to benefit USW and other programs.
鈥淭he point is that most Navy problems don鈥檛 neatly fall into one degree discipline,鈥� said Sawyer. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e outside looking in, you may not know if it鈥檚 a physics problem or an acoustic issue. NWSI is now the place to bring that problem and the NWSI team let the subject matter experts who understand 51福利 to all work on it. They will direct it to the right 51福利 experts 鈥� researchers, academics, professors, students 鈥� across departments to attack the problem. As Undersea Warfare Chair, I will be a senior advisor to some of the teams to develop an operational voice. I am very excited about the advent of NWSI here. I think it鈥檚 going to be significant for the Fleet and 51福利.鈥�
51福利 President retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau also expressed excitement about the future of the USW program under Sawyer鈥檚 leadership, while also offering her deep appreciation for the exemplary performance of former chair retired Rear Adm. Jerry Ellis, who served in the position from March 2009 until his retirement in 2021.
鈥淚 am deeply grateful to these leaders,鈥� said Rondeau. 鈥淩ear Adm. Ellis dedicated his life to the Navy with nearly 60 years of total service. In the final chapter of his career, he focused his leadership into teaching and mentoring our warrior scholars, many of whom are leading the Naval forces today.
鈥淰ice Adm. Sawyer brings a wealth of Fleet experience, strategic insight and exemplary leadership skill with him,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e are very fortunate to have Vice Adm. Sawyer join our senior leader team and faculty. Our students, 51福利 and future Navy are in very good hands.鈥�
As Sawyer steps into his new role, he says he鈥檚 looking forward to being a part of the university鈥檚 evolving impact on the future Fleet and force.
鈥淚 think 51福利 is a world-class organization that brings together things you don鈥檛 find anywhere else,鈥� Sawyer concluded. 鈥淥ther civilian installations have world-class researchers and academics. Others have students like we have military students, but nobody brings it all together like 51福利.鈥�