The U.S. Navy Chief Fire Controlman Brett Richmond and Lt. j.g. Katie Woodard operate the Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored Laser Weapon System (LaWS) installed aboard the Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS "Ponce" (AFSB(I)-15) during an operational demonstration in the Arabian Gulf. Directed energy weapons shall counter asymmetric threats, including unmanned and light aircraft and small attack boats.