AEGIS Tactical Action Officer (TAO) Instructor / Lab Mentor

General Dynamics IT; Dahlgren (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics IT is seeking a Training Specialist Senior - AEGIS TAO Instructor/Lab Mentor to train Navy personnel in tactical decision-making, combat-system employment, watchstanding, and procedures in simulated environments.

You will plan advanced training, conduct simulator sessions, mentor students, and evaluate performance against standards. A Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of experience, plus Navy teaching background, are required with Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related technical discipline.
• Seven years of experience with the required system or process in a master-level training environment.
• Experience as a TAO, Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator, Ballistic Missile Defense Officer, or Combat System Coordinator on an Aegis warship.
• One year as an instructor in a Navy Training Environment, including curriculum maintenance and testing.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and conduct advanced tactical training for Navy TAO and warfare watchstations.
• Lead simulator and lab-based training with realistic scenarios to evaluate decision‑making.
• Mentor students with real-time guidance and post-exercise feedback to improve performance.
• Assess performance against established tactical, operational, watchstanding, and qualification standards.
• Coordinate with instructors and leadership to identify training needs and requirements.
• Ensure training environments comply with Navy policies and information-security requirements.

Skills

Combat Systems

Curriculum Modification

Missile Defense Certs

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related technical discipline

Job description

Type of Requisition:

Pipeline

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:

Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:

Secret

Public Trust/Other Required:

None

Job Family:

Program Instruction Support

Job Qualifications:

Skills:

Combat Systems, Curriculum Modification, Missile Defense Certifications:

None Experience:

7 + years of related experience US Citizenship Required:

Yes

Job Description:

Training Specialist Senior - AEGIS Tactical Action Officer (TAO) Instructor/Lab Mentor

A U.S. Navy Tactical Action Officer (TAO) Instructor/Lab Mentor is responsible for training, coaching, and evaluating Navy personnel in tactical decision-making, combat-system employment, watchstanding, and operational procedures within simulated and laboratory-based environments. The instructor and mentor prepares personnel to effectively manage complex tactical situations, interpret sensor and combat-system information, coordinate shipboard warfare functions, and make timely decisions in support of mission objectives. The position requires extensive operational experience, strong knowledge of naval warfare and combat-system employment, exceptional communication and leadership skills, and the ability to evaluate decision-making and watchstanding performance in high-tempo, scenario-driven training environments.

HOW A TRAINING SPECIALIST SENIOR WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

Plan, coordinate, and conduct advanced tactical training for Navy personnel serving in or preparing for Tactical Action Officer and other warfare watchstations.

Conduct simulator and laboratory-based training using realistic tactical scenarios designed to evaluate decision-making, situational awareness, watchstanding, communications, and combat-system employment.

Mentor and coach students through tactical exercises, providing real-time guidance and post-exercise feedback to improve performance.

Evaluate student performance against established tactical, operational, watchstanding, and qualification standards.

Train personnel in the interpretation and integration of information from sensors, combat systems, intelligence sources, communications systems, and tactical networks.

Develop and execute scenarios involving complex, rapidly changing tactical environments requiring prioritization, coordination, and timely decision-making.

Evaluate students' ability to recognize developing threats, assess tactical situations, establish priorities, and coordinate appropriate responses.

Provide instruction on command-and-control principles, tactical decision-making, rules and procedures, communications, and warfare-system coordination.

Assess watch team performance and identify deficiencies in communication, coordination, situational awareness, decision-making, and tactical execution.

Conduct structured debriefs following training events, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and specific opportunities for improvement.

Coordinate with instructors, training staff, watchstanders, and command leadership to identify individual and team training requirements.

Incorporate operational experience, lessons learned, and fleet best practices into training scenarios and instructional material.

Maintain proficiency in applicable naval warfare doctrine, tactical procedures, combat-system capabilities, and watchstanding requirements.

Mentor junior Sailors and developing watchstanders in leadership, professional development, tactical proficiency, and Navy standards.

Support qualification programs by preparing personnel for advanced watchstation qualifications and operational responsibilities.

Ensure training environments and exercises are conducted safely and in accordance with applicable Navy policies, procedures, and information-security requirements.

Support command and fleet readiness by developing tactically proficient watch teams capable of operating effectively in complex and high-pressure environments.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED:

Bachelor's Degree in a related technical discipline, or the equivalent combination of education, technical certifications, training, or work/military experience.

Seven (7) years of experience with the required system or process as either a maintenance technician manager or operator manager with responsibility for teaching the applicable system or function task to others in a master level training environment.

Experience as a qualified TAO , Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator, Ballistic Missile Defense Officer, or Combat System Coordinator and requires relevant experience, as Warfare Commander/Coordinator for Air, Surface, Subsurface, Strike, C4I, or Ballistic Missile Defense on an Aegis warship is required.

Of the seven (7) years, one (1) year of experience as an instructor in a Navy Training Environment, to include curriculum maintenance, writing learning objectives, preparing test items, evaluating instructional materials and the results of instruction and counseling students on academic learning problems including one (1) year relevant experience inte