In March, we received an exciting briefing from military and civilian leaders at the Charles County Military Alliance Council (MAC)’s annual State of the Station event at the Velocity Center in Indian Head. In 2024, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) experienced one of its most fiscally successful years in decades, infusing nearly a billion dollars into the Charles County economy and providing jobs for hundreds of Southern Maryland residents.
The annual State of the Station brings residents and business leaders from the Town of Indian Head and Charles County together to understand the command’s important role in the U.S. Department of Defense's national security strategy, as well as its role in the local economy as one of the county’s top employers and a significant stimulator of economic development.
Our Naval Base Is Unique
The NSWC IHD is the only site of its kind. “There is nowhere else in the United States of America that can do what Indian Head does,” said the Command’s Technical Director Ashley Johnson. “There are places that can do some of what Indian Head does, but nobody does everything that Indian Head does.”
The NSWC IHD is the Department of Navy’s only arsenal and leader in energetics. Their work is critical to our national defense and protecting America’s interests at home and abroad. “We’re still about $1 billion worth of businesses and about $1 billion worth of contracting on top of that,” said Johnson. “We have about 2,500 employees, and we have a lot of buildings.”
Because of the NSWC IHD’s importance to national security, the Navy has committed $3 billion over the next 15 years to modernize and drastically increase munitions production as the nation’s only public arsenal.
Energetics Comprehensive Modernization Plan
The command’s modernization plan includes improvements to infrastructure, technology, and facilities. This investment will create opportunities for local businesses, contractors, and developers to thrive, helping drive economic development. The plan includes more than 500 infrastructure projects over 15 years.
Captain Stephen Duba said, “The success or failure of the modernization plan is not just a Navy matter. To successfully execute this plan, we need a community focused on compatible development, a community that will welcome the new talent needed, and an educational system that grows the type of workforce that will define our future. We’re working with you all on the infrastructure—on utilities, traffic, and a number of important issues.”
Community Support
Charles County is committed to being more than just a host community—we are an active partner.
Commissioner President Reuben Collins reminded the audience, “The State of the Station is more than just a status update. It’s the reaffirmation of our shared commitment to security, economic development, and community prosperity. We’re not just neighbors; we’re partners in strengthening our national defense and advancing economic opportunities for all.”
“But just as they [our military] stand ready to serve, we too must stand ready to support,” he continued. “To our business community, I encourage you to explore opportunities to engage with NSF Indian Head—whether through federal contracting opportunities, technology partnerships, or workforce development programs—and to also engage in work with the Charles County Economic Development Department.”
In Conclusion
This year’s State of the Station was a powerful and energizing event, filled with insight, collaboration, and forward-looking conversation. It was an incredible opportunity to hear directly from military and civilian leaders, all united in strengthening our national defense and our local community.
There is a lot to look forward to. About the NSWC IHD, Captain Stephen Duba commented, “This unique installation has been at the forefront of America’s national defense since 1890. This place has risen to meet every new challenge to America since its establishment, but the most storied chapter of Indian Head’s story is not in the past —it’s in the present and in the future.”
