Geocent

USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and Strike Group Oceanography Team, San Diego Calif., hosted three architects for a three day underway demonstration of afloat operational support this fall.

The architects, Martha Yacoub, Bruce Gritton, and Paul Williams, were shown a myriad of scenario based evolutions and usage of existing Navy Integrate Tactical Environment Subsystems (NITES) Mobile Variants, Mini Rawinsonde Systems and Shipboard satellite receiving and processing systems.

“Having [these key players] together at sea, observing and discussing the Meteorology and Oceanography support process will improve the future support for shipboard forecasters,” said Lt. Chuck Browder, USS Makin Island’s Division Officer.

During the visit, the Aerographer’s Mates aboard further conducted demonstrations of surface weather observation, weather balloon launches and utilization of the shipboard satellite receiving and processing system. These processes are essential to the forecast preparation that supports Navigation, Flight Operations and Landing Craft Air Cushion Operations.

Those aboard as well as the guests gained much from the experience. “I keep thinking of anecdotes of things I saw on the ship that have broadened my perspective of what goes on at sea”, said Yacoub. “I believe this ship ride greatly enhanced my knowledge of how, what is currently on paper in NITES can be translated into the fleet METOC user's next generation NITES METOC suite of tools”.

Gritton and Yacoub also gave briefs on the Navy Enterprise Portal - Oceanography and NITES-Next to the Aerographer’s Mates aboard. “It is essential to get the program managers and designers out here with the end users to see how the programs will be used, “said Chief Aerographer’s Mate Dave Fuller. “It cuts out unnecessary bells and whistles and results in a more user friendly interface, saving time and money for the Navy.”

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