Navy Honors Draper Vice President with FBM Lifetime Achievement Award

CAMBRIDGE, MA – The TRIDENT II Weapons System was initially engineered to serve until 2027. When the Navy announced an initiative to extend its life to 2042, the challenge was to modernize the system and introduce life-extending modular design capabilities while continuing to meet the Navy’s stringent performance and budget requirements.

The U.S. Navy honored Steven J. DiTullio, who helped the service address these challenges as he oversaw the design and development of its MARK 6 guidance system, which is used in the TRIDENT II, as a senior leader at Draper, with its Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) Lifetime Achievement Award during a May 4 ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard.

According to the Navy statement, the FBM Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes industry partners who have demonstrated “technical brilliance, innovation, and expertise in their field,” and DiTullio’s work played a fundamental role in providing the United States with a credible and affordable sea-based strategic deterrent.

DiTullio, whose Draper career has so far spanned 33 years, is credited with his lifetime contribution to the U.S. Navy FBM program, including MOD1 guidance leadership of the Mk6 Life Extension Program and transformation of Draper into the guidance prime contractor for the Strategic Systems Programs. DiTullio is Draper’s vice president for strategic systems.

As the U.S. Navy’s strategic guidance prime contractor, Draper has designed and supported the guidance system for every fleet ballistic missile deployed since the program began in 1955. Mr. DiTullio continues to provide distinguished TRIDENT Guidance Program leadership and has achieved an exemplary record of successful program management, program execution, technology development, experimental systems implementation and production transition.