160516-N-PO203-423 NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (May 16, 2016) Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Michael Pecota takes questions from the panel following his pitch during the Athena DC 1.0 challenge, a "Shark Tank"-inspired event held during the Sea-Air-Space Exposition at National Harbor. Panelists shown are from left, Vice Adm. Phil Cullom, OPNAV N4; Dr. Larry Schuette, Director of Research at the Office of Naval Research; and Dr. Ralph Semmel, Director of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. The Athena Project is an initiative, founded in the Surface Community, focused on harnessing deckplate innovations to create a cadre of forward-thinking, creatively confident Sailors for the Fleet of tomorrow. Pecota, of Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic, Detachment Patuxent River, went on to take first prize and receive the Admiral Sims Award for Intellectual Courage, financial support from his command an access to Athena's network of past winners and acquisitions and research contacts. (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams/Released)