The Delaware Valley Section of the American Society of Naval Engineers hosts a biennial Smart Ships Symposium in Philadelphia. The June 2005 event will be the sixth in the series. These meetings focus on the latest technological capabilities enabling the Navy to apply automation to the operation and maintenance of the fleet and have ordinarily attracted over four hundred attendees and the presentation of thirty to forty technical papers.
The profits from the symposia have been given to the ASNE Scholarship Fund and to the ASNE authorized "Adopt-a-Ship" program. While the adoption of a ship ordinarily only funds a subscription to the ASNE Journal, The Delaware Valley Section decided that there was more that they could do to provide support and in 1998 began annual donations to the USS Gettysburg.

Since most of the members of the Section are involved with NAVSEA, Philadelphia either as contractors or employees, we thought it fitting to select a surface combatant with a homeport on the east coast. Gettysburg being a Pennsylvania city, the final choice was not difficult.
The ship has used the funds for awards for the Seaman and Chief of the Quarter and for various improvements to the crew workout spaces. In 1999, the Chief Engineer and the Weapons Officer visited Philadelphia and gave a luncheon presentation showing the activities while on deployment.

Delaware Valley Chairs:
* 2004-2005 - Steve Michetti
* 2000-2004 - Tom Perry
* 1998-2000 - Bill Compton
* 1997-1998 - Pat Woody
* 1996-1997 - Tom Quinn
* 1995-1996 - Andy Geyer
* 1994-1995 - Capt. Harry Rucker