Mission Area
Sea Control
Johns Hopkins APL’s Sea Control Mission Area supports U.S. Navy and joint service missions, delivering essential capabilities to project military power on, under, and above the seas. We focus on four key areas to revolutionize maritime superiority: maritime domain situational awareness, kinetic and non-kinetic effects to deter aggressors and deescalate hostilities, force survivability against near-peer threats, and effective and affordable rapid prototyping and modernization. We develop and field innovative solutions that maintain global access for U.S. naval forces and deny adversaries use of the maritime domain.
Leadership
Andrew Mara Sector Head, Force Projection
Learn more about Andrew Mara
Vernon Parks Mission Area Executive, Sea Control
Learn more about Vernon “CJ” ParksHighlights
Integrated Undersea Surveillance Systems
We are solving critical challenges for the Navy’s undersea surveillance community, making contributions such as active and passive sonar processing algorithms for inclusion in the Advanced Surveillance Build tactical sonar modernization program.
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Integrated Undersea Surveillance Systems
Submarine Survivability Program
The SSN/SSGN survivability program ensures our submarines stay hidden regardless of new technology, changing mission requirements, and increasingly sophisticated adversaries.
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Submarine Survivability Program
Swarming Uncrewed Surface Vehicles
APL, in collaboration with the Naval Air Warfare Center Port Hueneme Weapons Division, led a swarming uncrewed surface vehicle demonstration of advanced multivehicle autonomy at tactically relevant speeds.
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Swarming Uncrewed Surface Vehicles
Recent News
Press Release
Mar 16, 2026
Parks Named Sea Control Mission Area Executive at Johns Hopkins APL
Vernon Parks will lead a diverse portfolio of programs and initiatives focused on ensuring maritime domain situational awareness; delivering sea-based effects to deter aggressors; enhancing force survivability; and enabling effective, affordable rapid prototyping and modernization to advance Navy missions.
News
Mar 4, 2026
Simulating the Seas to Make Additive Manufacturing Fleet-Ready
Johns Hopkins APL and GKN Aerospace are partnering to develop a system that simulates shipboard motion for metal 3D printing at sea — advancing the Navy’s ability to produce critical parts on demand. Building on APL’s success aboard the USS Bataan, this effort aims to enable motion-aware manufacturing of mission-essential components in dynamic maritime environments.
Press Release
Nov 12, 2025
New Robotic Arm Opens Doors to Explore Future of Maritime Repair
Johns Hopkins APL has installed a state-of-the-art robotic arm to advance repair and manufacturing for the maritime industrial base. Using wire arc additive manufacturing and advanced sensing technologies, the system makes faster, more precise repairs of oversized components possible—strengthening fleet readiness and reducing costs. This innovation builds on APL’s commitment to supporting Navy sustainment and industrial agility.