NAVAIR News Release NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. David Architzel kicks of the 11th annual NAVAIR Commander's National Awards Ceremony at Patuxent River, Md., June 22. (U.S. Navy photo) PATUXENT RIVER, Md. Hundreds of Naval Air Systems Command employees were honored by NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. David Architzel during the 11th annual NAVAIR Commander s National Awards ceremony June 22. The honorary team awards recognize technical, business and leadership excellence. The ceremony was held at NAVAIR headquarters in Patuxent River, Md., and broadcasted via video teleconference to all sites. Architzel, who hosted the ceremony, was joined by Rear Adm. Paul Grosklags, vice commander, NAVAIR; Rear Adm. Randy Mahr, assistant commander for Research and Engineering; Rear Adm. Thomas Matthews, commander, Fleet Readiness Centers; and Rear Adm. Mathias Winter, assistant commander for Test and Evaluation. In his opening remarks, Architzel reminded the audience to think of NAVAIR as the face of naval aviation. Our connection to the fleet is real, Architzel said. And what we do is important and has consequences. Our Sailors and Marines rely on our technical, business, and leadership excellence to sustain and deliver the products they need to Page 1 of 10
NAVAIR News Release achieve mission success. Always remember that. Architzel presented the six NAVAIR Commander s awards acknowledging achievement in business operations; quality of service and customer service; logistics and industrial operations; program management; research, development, test and evaluation; and science and technology. And the winners are, by category: Business Operations Security Operations Team. The team developed major technology-based aids streamlining the delivery of mission-critical products and services such as security classification guides, critical program information surveys, personnel security clearances and Outside the Continental United States traveler location. Mission support was appreciably improved while reducing costs to the naval aviation enterprise with the simultaneous deployment of metrics-based analytic tools, which assess organization compliance in the areas of personnel security clearances, classification management and technology protection. Quality of Service and Customer Service P-3 Orion Team. Leadership, dedication, responsiveness, and superb communication with the fleet customer helped overcome significant challenges presented by aging aircraft. The team also made it possible to deliver improved training and more reliable anti-submarine warfare mission system capabilities back to P-3 squadrons around the globe. The successes of the team enabled the fleet to deploy more aircraft forward to meet combatant commanders requirements and directly influenced the CNO s decision to restore two patrol squadrons that had been marked for deactivation because of budgetary constraints. Logistics and Industrial Operations PMA-261 Logistics Team. The H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopter Program team led NAVAIR in achieving the Commander s Guidance through affordable and supportable sustainment solutions for Heavy Lift by demonstrating leadership, innovation and best practices by improving operational support, reducing life-cycle cost reduction and achieving acquisition excellence. Program Management Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Industrial Environmental Program Team. During the past 18 months, the team completed several sustainability and process improvement projects resulting in more than $1.8 million in cost avoidance. Additionally, FRCSE reclaimed 13 EA-6B aircraft to provide $9 million in cost avoidance and recycled 30 tons of turbine blades containing rhenium to General Electric Company. Page 2 of 10
NAVAIR News Release Research, Development, Test and Evaluation AH-IZ Program Team. The AH-IZ program was on the verge of termination after an incomplete operational evaluation as a result of onboard weapon delivery systems reliability failures and capability deficiencies. The team developed a robust risk reduction program to resolve technical deficiencies while executing necessary acquisition functions to support the acquisition decision-making process. The result was a highly successful operational evaluation achievement of an AH-IZ Milestone C Full Rate Production Decision Review, and delivery of a highly capable weapons system to the U.S. Marine Corps warfighting community. Science and Technology P-3 Orion Aircrew Tactical Team Trainer Integrated Product Team (IPT). The team, working with Navy and private industry partners, developed a low-cost, low-footprint, deployable, high-fidelity training system which provides aircrew members with the means to maintain highly perishable anti-submarine warfare skills while at forward-deployed locations. During the ceremony, Architzel also presented the Edward H. Heinemann Award, sponsored by the Association of Naval Aviation; the T. Michael Fish Quality of Worklife Award; and the NAVAIR Small Business Advocacy awards. Edward H. Heinemann Award for Outstanding Achievement AN/AAR-47A/A (V) 2 Missile Warning System Hostile Fire Indication (HFI) IPT PMA-272. In response to an Urgent Universal Needs Statement, the team modified the AAR-47 Missile Warning System to detect and alert assault aircraft aircrew when they are being targeted by unguided munitions currently the largest threat to assault aircraft engaged in combat operations. To accomplish this critical warfighter upgrade, the team test fired thousands of live-fire rounds, completed more than 1,000 hours of modeling and simulations, and more than 100 hours of test flight on six different assault platforms in order to complete a successful operational evaluation in just over 15 months. The capability is the first of its kind in any service in the DoD and is expected to enhance the protection of warfighters engaged in combat operations, ensuring their ability to safely accomplish critical missions. T. Michael Fish Award for NAVAIR Quality of Worklife Gregory W. Kennedy, NAVAIR Patuxent River. As head of the Research and Engineering division, Human Systems department since July 2010, Kennedy expanded recruitment efforts and developed numerous mentoring programs to bring more junior personnel up to higher levels of performance. He transformed a division with low morale to one that enjoys high morale and greater retention rates. His lead-by-example style motivated his employees to assume even greater challenges while operating in a fiscally-constrained environment. Page 3 of 10
NAVAIR News Release Small Business Advocacy Award: Science and Technology Team PMA-281 Strike Planning and Execution Systems. The team managed the Small Business Innovation Research development of a software tool to geo-register full-motion video of unmanned air vehicles and aircraft, and led the design for open and service-oriented architectures for several PMA-281 programs. Their efforts were designed to accommodate small business competition in an environment previously dominated by large, prime contractors. Small Business Advocacy Award: Auditory Performance Team. The team showed outstanding innovation in increasing small businesses contributions to the health of the warfighter by leveraging multiple defense agency research projects, and successfully delivering new hearing protection products from small business primes and sub-contractors. Small Business Advocacy Award: Special Surveillance Program Contracts Team. The team supported the war effort in Afghanistan by awarding rapid turn-around persistent surveillance contracts and providing small business products to directly enhance the security of Forward Operating Bases. Architzel closed the ceremony by telling NAVAIR s workforce that whether or not they were formally recognized at this event, their work is appreciated. Never forget what you do truly matters, Architzel said. Let s continue to work together to ensure our Sailors and Marines have what they need. Hundreds of NAVAIR employees were recognized for their technical, business and leadership excellence. (U.S. Navy photo) Page 4 of 10
NAVAIR News Release Bill Rabbitt, security operations officer, AIR-7.4C, and team lead for the Security Operations Team, accepts the award for the 2010 NAVAIR Commander s National Awards for Business Operations June 22 at Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Holli Galletti, P-3 deputy program manager, accepts the team s award for Quality of Service and Customer Service on behalf of Capt. Aaron Rondeau, P-3 team lead, at the 11th annual NAVAIR Commander s National Awards June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Page 5 of 10
NAVAIR News Release Robert Leavitt, PMA-261 Logistics team lead, accepts the NAVAIR Commander s National Award for Logistics and Industrial Operations on behalf of the team at the ceremony held June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Fleet Readiness Center Southeast Industrial Environment Program team lead, Peter Gallant, accepts the NAVAIR National Commander s Award for Program Management on behalf of the team at the ceremony held June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Page 6 of 10
NAVAIR News Release Scott Hite, team lead for the AH-1Z program, accepts the team s NAVAIR National Commander s Award for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation at the awards ceremony held June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Jonathan Glass, team lead for the P-3C Aircrew Tactical Training Team Trainer Integrated Product Team, traveled from Orlando, Fla., to accept the team s NAVAIR National Commander s Award for Science and Technology at the ceremony June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Page 7 of 10
NAVAIR News Release Mark Converse, president of the Association of Naval Aviation, presents the 2010 Edward H. Heinemann Award to the AN/AAR-47A/B(V)2 Missile Warning System Hostile Fire Indication Integrated Product Team, represented by team lead Keith Taylor. The Heinemann award is presented to an individual or group of individuals within NAVAIR who achieved or helped achieve significant improvement in the design or modification of an aircraft or aircraft system. (U.S. Navy photo) T. Michael Fish, former head of NAVAIR s Research and Engineering staff office and deputy assistant commander for Shore Station Management, presents the T. Michael Fish Award for NAVAIR Quality of Worklife to Gregory Kennedy, head of NAVAIR s Research and Engineering Division, Human Systems Department. The award recognizes excellence in a leader who makes significant improvements to the quality of work life for the NAVAIR workforce. (U.S. Navy photo) Page 8 of 10
NAVAIR News Release PMA-281 Science and Technology team lead Cmdr. Dan Mackin accepts the Small Business Advocacy award on behalf of the team at the NAVAIR Commander s National Awards ceremony June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. The team was honored for their efforts to accommodate small business competition in an environment previously dominated by large prime contractors. (U.S. Navy photo) A NAVAIR Small Business Advocacy Award is presented to the Auditory Performance Team, represented by Mike Jaffee, Personal Protection Systems branch head. The team was honored for increasing small businesses contributions to warfighter health at the NAVAIR Commander s National Awards ceremony June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Page 9 of 10
NAVAIR News Release Francis Hufnell, team lead for the Special Surveillance Contracts team, accepts the NAVAIR Small Business Advocacy Award for their efforts to provide small business products to directly enhance the security of Forward Operating Bases. The award was presented at the NAVAIR Commander s National Awards June 22 in Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo) Page 10 of 10