Sean Memmen likes to describe his mission-critical work simply. “It’s like air, since you don’t think about positioning, navigation and timing—or PNT—until you don’t have it.”
Supporting our next commute and the safety of the nation
You may not realize it, but we depend on PNT every day. Coupled with map data and other information (weather or traffic, for example), the technology forms our modern navigation systems—and you couldn’t ask your smartphone for directions without it. While PNT is the marriage of many technologies, it’s underpinned by the Global Positioning System (GPS), which identifies our locations, destinations, and coordinates time, allowing us to move from point A to B by foot, plane, train, or automobile.
Sean’s PNT expertise dates back to his time with the U.S. Navy. As Deputy Navigator, he helped the Navy lay the groundwork for a paperless navigation system. He also charted the course for the development and refinement of PNT within the Navy and Department of Defense at large, directing the creation of PNT strategies and resources that continue to strengthen the Navy’s preparedness and warfighting capabilities.
After a naval career spanning more than 26 years, Sean joined Booz Allen. He now provides innovative solutions for assured PNT—a blend of solutions that protect our clients from a host of system vulnerabilities across land, sea, air, and the cyber arena. Sean also helps develop navigation warfare (NAVWAR) for government and defense clients.
“I joined Booz Allen to work side-by-side with Department of Defense leadership, and to help clients across the government and commercial space,” says Sean.
Since PNT is also tightly interwoven into defense operations, its resilience is vital. If PNT sources are jammed or hacked, it could significantly disrupt military operations. Sean’s mission? “To make sure PNT is available and assured, even when adversaries attempt to deny its use.”
But he knows this is no small task. A lot of collaboration and teamwork go into making PNT relevant, moving beyond the math and science to real world applications. Ultimately, what really matters are that the systems, programs, software, and standards will be relevant for years to come.
“Clients know their systems and know what these systems need to deliver," says Sean. "It takes teamwork to define and understand the client’s challenge and then work with them to assure system, and mission, success.”
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