SK Resident Wins Award for Naval Warfare Work

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport employees Denise Szelag, Joseph Murphy and Nicolina Kelly have been selected as winners in this year's Rhode Island Federal Employees of the Year Award. 

Their contributions in the areas of professional accomplishments, technical excellence and compliance, and humanitarian work have earned each of them distinguished recognition from the RI Federal Executive Council.  This is the first time in 12 years that three NUWC Newport employees have been honored in the same year.

Joseph Murphy, Director of Physical Operations, is responsible for all environmental, safety, security, facilities, and installation support programs at NUWC Newport and its satellite locations around the country.  A resident of South Kingstown, Murphy and his team achieved national acclaim for its environmental awareness programs and its safety, security, and facility performance.  Murphy, a graduate of both the University of Rhode Island and the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, won the RI Federal Employee of the Year Award in the Technical/Compliance category.

Tiverton resident Denise Szelag was instrumental in bringing a highly complex fiscal management system to the 22,000 employees across the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers' ten Divisions nationwide.  Her unparalleled knowledge of Navy systems and processes as well as managerial acumen and resourcefulness were critical to the seamless integration of the program into all operations.  Szelag, a graduate of both the University of Rhode Island and Bryant University, won the RI Federal Employee of the Year Award in the Professional category.

Portsmouth resident Nicolina Kelly, a computer scientist in the Torpedo Systems Department since 2008, has applied her considerable expertise in computer science and mathematics to improve the Navy's torpedo programs.  During her non-working hours, she works tirelessly to support and manage Infinity Volunteers, a not-for-profit organization that involves high school students in humanitarian projects locally, in the United States, and in underdeveloped countries.  In addition to her administrative support, Kelly helps the students raise money for trips and supplies and accompanies them on their trips around the world to help people in need.  Kelly, a graduate of Providence College, won the John H. Chafee Humanitarian of the Year Award.

NUWC Division Newport is one of two divisions of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. NUWC Division Newport’s mission is to provide research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems, and countermeasures. NUWC’s other division is located in Keyport, WA.

Release courtesy of NUWC.