From Battleship to Boardroom: Navy Declassifies Advanced Tech to Fuel Fairfax's Economic Future

FAIRFAX, VA – May 28, 2026 – By Tyler Flores

In an unprecedented move bridging national defense with local enterprise, the U.S. Navy is set to unlock a trove of its most advanced technologies for the private sector. On June 26, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), in a strategic collaboration with Fairfax City Economic Development, will host the 'Sensors & Autonomy Reverse Pitch Day.' The event marks a pivotal moment in a concerted effort to transform Northern Virginia into a powerhouse of commercial innovation by leveraging taxpayer-funded, cutting-edge military research.

Instead of businesses pitching to the government, this unique "reverse pitch" format will feature Navy inventors presenting their patented and patent-pending technologies to a regional audience of entrepreneurs, academics, and investors. The goal is to find commercial partners who can adapt these sophisticated systems—originally designed for the high-stakes maritime environment—for the consumer and industrial marketplace. This initiative promises to accelerate technology transfer, drive regional economic growth, and solidify Fairfax City's reputation as a burgeoning hub for deep tech.

A Strategic Alliance for Regional Growth

This collaboration is not a one-off event but the tactical execution of a long-term strategy. It is rooted in a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) signed in July 2025 between Carderock and Fairfax City Economic Development. This agreement operates under the framework of the Capital Tech Bridge, one of several such hubs established by the Navy to intentionally lower the barriers between its research labs and the broader innovation ecosystem.

The Capital Tech Bridge initiative was designed to break down the bureaucratic silos that have historically kept federal innovation locked away. By creating a direct pipeline to the commercial world, the Navy aims to get a better return on its massive R&D investments while simultaneously fueling local economies. For Fairfax City, the partnership is a strategic masterstroke, providing its business community with direct access to a world-class R&D institution and its portfolio of high-value intellectual property.

"This collaboration is designed to unite the region's academic, government, and industrial ecosystem," explained Colleen Kardasz, CEO and Director of Fairfax City Economic Development, in the official announcement. The event will be co-led by Major Jacob Godfrey, who directs the Capital Tech Bridge, signifying the high level of strategic importance both the city and the Navy place on this partnership.

From Naval Warfare to Commercial Revolution

The technologies on offer are not minor improvements but foundational innovations in fields poised for explosive growth. The event will showcase four distinct inventions, each representing a gateway into a multi-billion dollar global market.

• Next-Generation Smart Sensors: Inventor Arthur Nwokoye will present his "Magnon Excitation and Detection Systems." While the name is technical, its application is vast. This technology represents a leap forward in smart sensor capabilities, which are the bedrock of the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial automation, and autonomous vehicles. This innovation is entering a global smart sensor market that was valued at over $87 billion in 2025 and is projected to skyrocket to over $334 billion by 2034, driven by the relentless march of Industry 4.0.

• Perfecting 3D Printing: Scott Ziv will pitch a "Device for In-Situ Monitoring for Additive Manufacturing using Ultrasonic Testing." This technology provides a real-time quality control solution for 3D printing, a critical hurdle for its adoption in high-stakes industries like aerospace and medical devices. With the additive manufacturing market expected to grow from around $30 billion in 2025 to nearly $170 billion by 2036, Ziv's invention could become an industry standard for ensuring reliability and precision.

• Teaching Robots to Navigate: Sasha Tsarev's "Maneuvering and Control Simulator for Underwater Vehicles" offers a sophisticated virtual environment to train autonomous maritime systems. As industries from shipping to offshore energy explore the use of unmanned vessels, the need for reliable training and simulation is paramount. This technology provides a direct entry into the autonomous ship market, which is forecasted to more than double from approximately $8.5 billion in 2025 to over $17 billion by 2031, reducing operational costs and improving safety.

• Solving the Autonomy Endurance Problem: Nikko Miniello will unveil a "System and Apparatus for Autonomously Fueling an Unmanned Surface Vehicle." One of the greatest limitations of autonomous systems is their range and endurance. This invention creates the robotic infrastructure to refuel unmanned ships at sea, dramatically extending their operational capabilities for logistics, surveillance, and scientific research. It taps into the rapidly expanding market for unmanned vehicle propulsion and support systems, a sector projected to reach $18 billion by 2035.

Charting a Course from Pitch to Partnership

The reverse pitch day is meticulously structured to ensure that these groundbreaking ideas don't just remain on a presentation slide. The agenda includes dedicated networking sessions and a comprehensive briefing titled "How to License from Us," led by Carderock's Patent IP Attorney, Jesus Hernandez.

This session is designed to demystify the process of federal technology licensing. Attendees will receive a deep-dive into available licensing models, legal frameworks, and fee structures. By presenting clear, actionable pathways, the Navy is signaling its serious intent to forge lasting commercial partnerships. The program will be bookended by presentations from Dr. John Barkyoumb and Dr. Joe Teter, who manage Carderock's external engagement and technology transfer portfolio, providing a comprehensive overview of the opportunities available.

This event represents a new paradigm in public-private partnerships. It is a calculated effort to ensure that the immense innovative power of the U.S. military serves a dual purpose: securing the nation and building its future economic prosperity, one technology at a time. For the businesses and innovators of Fairfax, the call to action is clear: the future is being pitched, and they have a front-row seat.