Reporter's Notebook

That’s one way of putting it

Assistant Chief of Naval Research Capt. Paul Essig had to pinch-hit for Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Nevin Carr earlier on the show floor; Carr sent his regrets because he’s dealing with a family emergency, Essig said.

He gave a standard PowerPoint about some of ONR’s programs and responsibilities. One of the ones to get underway this year is the Free Electron Laser, which officials consider a “game-changing” technology, if they can get it to work.

Essig’s favorite, he said, is the Navy’s electromagnetic rail gun:

“That’s just a really cool piece of metal going through the air at hypersonic speeds.”