Carderock's new Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher K. Matassa speaks to his newly assumed workforce at the Raye Montague Center for Maritime Technology in West Bethesda, Md., on July 17, 2024. Matassa relieved former Commanding Officer Capt. Matthew Tardy at the Change of Command for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division. (U.S. Navy photo by Chalene Simmons) Carderock is one of the Navy’s pre-eminent research and development facilities that specializes in critical ship design components headquartered in West Bethesda, Maryland. The Carderock Division supports small-scale model testing and evaluation of next-generation surface ships and underwater vessels.