Jason Gomez, Ph.D, a Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport employee since 1992, has been selected as Division Newport’s chief technology officer.

Gomez, a resident of East Greenwich, will lead Division Newport’s Chief Technology Office, driving innovation and development of new technologies through strategic partnerships with academia, industry, international partners and innovation cells. The office uses its influence to speed technology solutions to the fleet; to enhance information flow among the Office of Naval Research (ONR), other Science and Technology (S&T) customers and the warfare centers; and to transfer technologies developed at NUWC Division Newport to industry. 

Most recently, Gomez served as chief scientist in the Undersea Warfare Weapons, Vehicles, and Defensive Systems Department, providing technical guidance to Navy leadership on a full spectrum of research efforts funded by both internal and external sponsors. He also served as a technical advisor to the Underwater Weapon Program Office, PMS 404, providing assessments on emerging technology and technology solutions as to the feasibility of their integration into and operation as a torpedo system. 

He began his career at Division Newport in the Torpedo Systems Department. He served as the head for the Vehicle Dynamics and Signature Control Branch and as division head for the Applied Engineering Mechanics Division, as well as program manager for ONR AHSUM [adaptable high-speed underwater munitions] Supercavitating Underwater Projectile Program and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program manager for the Blue Wolf and Underwater Express. 

Gomez, chairman of the East Greenwich Planning Board, received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Syracuse University and a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Rhode Island in mechanical engineering. He has numerous refereed journal articles, conference presentations, publications and patents. 

NUWC Division Newport, part of the Naval Sea System Command, is one of two divisions of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. NUWC Division Newport’s mission is to provide research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems, and countermeasures. NUWC’s other division is located in Keyport, Wash. 

Gomez is married and has two children.

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Thomas Kenworthy, PhD, has been named superintendent of the Portsmouth public schools, by an unanimous vote of the Portsmouth School Committee Dec. 20. Kenworthy has been assistant superintendent in Portsmouth for 5½ years. He replaces Supt. Ana Riley, who’s last day is Jan 17.

Kenworthy was principal at North Kingstown High School before making the switch to Portsmouth in 2014. Before that, he worked as an administrator in Cumberland and was an educational specialist at RIDE for two years. He began his career in education at a social studies teacher and athletic coach at La Salle Academy and NKHS.

He has a B.A. from Rhode Island College, an M.Ed. in school administration from Providence College and a C.A.G.S. and Ed.D. in educational leadership from Johnson & Wales University. He completed an enlisted term in the United States Marine Corps Reserve while pursuing his undergraduate studies.

Kenworthy is married and has three children.

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