NAVWAR Hosts Final FIRST LEGO League Challenge Tournament

Official Statements

• Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), November 9: “Naval Information Warfare Systems Command hosted its final FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge tournament at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Calif. Nov. 7.

  Since 2009, NAVWAR and Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific have partnered with the Titanbots of Eastlake High School to host a joint FLL tournament. The Titanbots, a FIRST Robotics Competition team, take the lead in planning the event, with NAVWAR employees providing professional mentorship.

  FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a worldwide nonprofit dedicated to promoting a love of science and engineering in the next generation. FLL is specifically geared toward children aged nine to 14, who build robots using LEGO bricks to compete on tabletop playing fields.

  This season’s FLL theme is called BIOGLOWTM, where teams will use STEM, teamwork, and creativity to explore how innovation can support biodiversity, strengthen communities, and help build a healthier, more connected planet.

  This year, 30 teams throughout San Diego competed in a series of two-and-half-minute matches. Since the start of the season in August, participants have been developing their strategy and robot design to complete the mission tasks autonomously. The field had a total of twelve different missions, including herding ants, extending plant roots or picking up seeds - all made out of LEGO. Teams earned points based on how many challenges they can fulfill successfully.

  Volunteers from across NAVWAR and NIWC Pacific served as referees, coaches, pit crew, coordinators and more. As part of the competition, all teams must undergo an inspection to determine if their robot is ready to go, which is also conducted by volunteers. It allows the volunteer inspectors to ask the participants about their strategy and experience programming their robot.

  Lynda Potters, the enterprise communications and network division head at NIWC Pacific, has been volunteering with the NAVWAR FLL tournament since 2009. She has filled just about every role during her tenure: judge, referee, tournament director. “This has been such a rewarding experience, to see how many people have been positively influenced by this tournament,” she said. “Some of the participants from past years are now federal employees because we’ve introduced them to the Navy through our STEM outreach.”

  As the southernmost tournament within Southern California, the NAVWAR FLL tournament draws participants from all over San Diego County, with some even coming as far north as Los Angeles County and Orange County, in part because of the professional reputation it has garnered by being associated with the Navy.

  Most teams are run by an engineering parent or associated with their school’s robotics club. Casa Coders, an FLL team sponsored by a North County educational nonprofit called Casa de Amistad, has a more unique approach. As a community-based and volunteer-supported effort, Casa Coders is mentored by local high school students from the Torrey Pines High School FRC team. These students mentor the participants directly, while Casa de Amistad provides the practice space and funds.

  “This tournament has been a wonderful event for local robotics engagement as well as for Titanbots, as our students learn so much about leadership, organization, communication and teamwork,” said Joel Foust, engineering teacher and academic adviser for the Eastlake High School Titanbots. “Our partnership with NAVWAR/NIWC has been crucial to its success and sustainment. The leadership, mentorship, and patience of our planning partners and the participation of so many NAVWAR/NIWC volunteers has been instrumental to the success of the event and also to the professional development of our student leaders.”

  Over the past 17 years, NAVWAR has impacted thousands of children through its support of FIRST and this tournament. Its STEM outreach program hosted employee workshops on how to apply for federal grants and the basics of mentoring a team for any first-time participants. Given that FIRST had opportunities for all ages from kindergarten to 12th grade, employees could learn more about which category suited their mentoring availability. In the weeks leading up to the annual FLL tournament, they had regular brown-bag sessions, where employees were welcome to build LEGO models during their lunch break that would be used during the competition.

  “Robotics tournaments like these show what’s possible when we invest in young people and give them space to solve hard problems,” said Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus, commander, NAVWAR. “Students are gaining the confidence to test ideas, learn from setbacks and work toward a common goal. Those are the same qualities the Navy depends on to stay ready, adapt and maintain our technological advantage. We are proud to support programs that create these opportunities for students.”

  In the past, NAVWAR has been recognized by Eastlake High School and the City of Chula Vista for its continuous support of STEM outreach within the community. What began with one NAVWAR employee’s interest in FIRST has grown into an established program that has provided many students opportunities to pursue internships and grants from the Department of Navy and Department of War.

  With FIRST and LEGO not renewing their partnership next year for the 2027-2028 robotics season, each organization will be pursuing their own programs for K-8. With that, this will be the final NAVWAR and Eastlake High School Titanbot FLL Challenge tournament. Next year, NAVWAR STEM coordinators are optimistic about supporting future robotics programs in whatever iteration it may be.

  “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Titanbots,” said Wanda Curtis, STEM coordinator at NAVWAR. “Whatever the future might hold, STEM outreach remains a top priority for NAVWAR and the Department of War, so we’re excited to see what comes next. Mentoring the next generation is just one way we can give back. Through our combined efforts, we have made a measurable impact among our local communities.”

  NAVWAR identifies, develops, delivers and sustains information warfighting capabilities and services that enable naval, joint, coalition and other national missions operating in warfighting domains from seabed to space and through cyberspace. NAVWAR consists of more than 11,000 civilian, active duty and reserve professionals located around the world.”