WASHINGTON –
After a distinguished career spanning over five decades of pioneering electronic warfare systems to protect U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel, Dr. Francis J. Klemm, Senior Executive Service (SES) and superintendent of the Tactical Electronic Warfare Division (TEWD) at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), has retired on July 31.
"Dr. Klemm has been a cornerstone of the Naval Research Laboratory’s legacy in electronic warfare," said NRL Director of Research Dr. Bruce Danly, SES. “As the superintendent of the largest division on the Lab, Dr. Klemm has anticipated evolving, complex threats within the electromagnetic spectrum and delivered the countermeasures necessary to maintain our Navy’s tactical dominance.”
When a modern warship or tactical aircraft enters contested battlespace, its survival often depends on defensive systems that fight an invisible battle across the electromagnetic spectrum. As an incoming missile locks onto its target, electronic warfare (EW) systems spring into action – deceiving the weapon, breaking its lock, and drawing it harmlessly away. In those critical moments, catastrophe is averted and lives are saved. For over 50 years, Klemm has been the quiet force behind these life-saving electronic shields.
“Dr. Klemm’s legacy is not just one of laboratory breakthroughs,” Danly said. “It is measured in the countless Sailors and Marines who have returned home safely because the electronic warfare systems he championed successfully blinded, confused, or diverted adversary threats.”
Leading a workforce of approximately 225 electronic warfare Government professionals, Klemm provided critical oversight for shipboard and airborne electronic support and electronic attack technologies. His portfolio spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum, encompassing radio frequency (RF), microwave, millimeter wave, infrared, and electro-optical frequencies.
"I have seen, experienced, and participated in so many different and interesting things at the Lab," Klemm said. "The Lab has become a second home to me, and the people a second family. I consider it a great honor to have served my nation by being a member of this Laboratory – a place where research and development make a difference."
A Legacy of Dominance
"When you look at the systems Dr. Klemm helped transition from the Lab to the Fleet – innovations like the Nulka and towed decoy systems – you are looking at technology that has directly saved the lives of our Sailors and Marines," Danly said. "His unwavering commitment to rapid, operationally relevant research is the gold standard for what we strive to achieve here at NRL."
Klemm began his Navy career at the NRL July 1, 1975, as an aerospace engineer. During his retirement ceremony held at NRL-DC Headquarters, he said, “I came here looking for a job, what I found was a calling.”
Throughout his tenure, he became a central figure in the development of critical offboard countermeasures. As head of the Offboard Countermeasures Branch from 1985 to 2003, he oversaw the development of the MK-53 Nulka decoy system, the ALE-50/55 towed decoy systems, and the introduction of the MJU-27B infrared cartridge to the Fleet. These systems provide critical components in defending U.S. and allied warships and aircraft from anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles.
"Armed with an understanding of threat capabilities and trends, the Tactical Electronic Warfare Division has consistently developed and delivered advanced technological solutions that are critical to maintaining operational advantage for the Navy and Marine Corps,” Klemm said. “It is committed to providing the Fleet with the most capable and innovative electronic warfare capabilities. Our success is built upon the exceptional collaboration and technical expertise found across the Naval Research Laboratory.”
When new enabling technologies, fundamental components, or specialized analytic capabilities are required, experts from across the Laboratory readily contribute their knowledge and experience to help TEWD solve the problem.
“This unique concentration of world-class talent, combined with a culture of collaboration, is the Laboratory's greatest strengths and has been a cornerstone of the Tactical Electronic Warfare Division's successes,” Klemm said.
His rapid deployment of quick-reaction capability (QRC) hardware to protect allied naval assets during Operation Earnest Will earned him the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1988. He continued to support QRC developments for operational use throughout Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, with QRC efforts still ongoing.
“What appears seamless to the operator when a capability is delivered to the Fleet is, in reality, the culmination of countless hours of innovation, modeling, integration, testing, and unwavering dedication by Laboratory personnel,” Klemm said. “Their commitment ensures that our Sailors, Marines, and Airmen are equipped with the advanced systems they need to maintain operational superiority, accomplish their missions, and return home safely."
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California.
NRL offers several mechanisms for collaborating with the broader scientific community, within and outside of the Federal government. These include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), LP-CRADAs, Educational Partnership Agreements, agreements under the authority of 10 USC 4892, licensing agreements, FAR contracts, and other applicable agreements.
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at
NRLPAO@us.navy.mil.