Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

(NAVAIR)

Established in 1966 as the successor to the Navy’s Bureau of Naval Weapons, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is headquartered in, Patuxent River Maryland, with military and civilian personnel stationed at eight locations across the continental United States and one site overseas. NAVAIR’s mission is to provide full life-cycle support of naval aviation aircraft, weapons and systems operated by Sailors and Marines. This support includes research, design, development and systems engineering; acquisition; test and evaluation; training facilities and equipment; repair and modification; and in-service engineering and logistics support.

NAVAIR is organized into eight “competencies” or communities of practice including: program management, contracts, research and engineering, test and evaluation, logistics and industrial

Aviation Electrician climbs onto a EA-6B Prowler on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Devin Wray.

operations, corporate operations, comptroller and counsel. NAVAIR provides support (people, processes, tools, training, mission facilities, and core technologies) to Naval Aviation Program Executive Officers (PEOs) and their assigned program managers, who are responsible for meeting the cost, schedule, and performance requirements of their assigned programs.

NAVAIR’s affiliated PEOs are: • PEO for Tactical Aircraft Programs,

PEO(T) • PEO for Air ASW, Assault and Special

Mission Programs, PEO(A) • PEO for Unmanned Aviation and

Strike Weapons, PEO(U&W), • PEO for Joint Strike Fighter, PEO(-

JSF), (which alternates service lead with the US Air Force) NAVAIR is the principal provider for the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE), while contributing to every Warfare enterprise in the interest of national security. We embrace the privilege of our responsibility to the Sailor and Marine in partnership with industry, all Naval Aviation stakeholders, and our fellow Systems Commands.

Vision Sailors and Marines Armed with Confidence

Because we develop, deliver, and sustain aircraft, weapons, and systems – on time, on cost, with proven capability and reliability – so they succeed in every mission and return safely home.

NAVAIR Focus Areas

Increase Speed to the Fleet through program of record planning and execution, and rapid response to urgent warfighter needs.

Consistently Deliver Integrated & Interoperable Warfighting Capabilities (platforms, sensors and weapons operating seamlessly in a systems of systems environment) that produce an immediate and sustainable increase in warfighting effectiveness; and improve Affordability by reducing operating and sustainment costs for fielded systems and implementing life-cycle cost reduction initiatives as part of new systems development.

The Naval Aviation Enterprise

The Naval Aviation Enterprise is a partnership of supported and supporting stakeholders that is led by the Navy and Marine Corps. It is a mature construct whose continuing relevance is maintained through its ability to evolve to best support Naval Aviation readiness requirements. Through the NAE, Naval Aviation stakeholders work as one team across the warfighter, resource sponsor and provider domains.

Naval Aviation is an essential element of national strategy, and it must combine the right warfighting capabilities with the necessary readiness to bring those capabilities to bear. The NAE serves as the single framework for facilitating collaboration, transparency, cross-functional engagement, information sharing and process improvements that are necessary to deliver those essential capabilities and readiness. Every NAE stakeholder is committed to this mission.

Enterprise Guiding Principles

An enterprise, and specifically the Naval Aviation Enterprise, is a way of doing business that promotes enhanced coordination and collaboration to achieve effectiveness, emphasizes the efficient use of resources, and provides information to aid in decision-making. NAE leadership is committed to these principles that act as a guide for everyday decisions:

• Concentrate efforts on producing required readiness while sustaining Fleet

wholeness and improving efficiency. • Exercise a bias for action. • Drive systemically cross-functional, cross-command practices. • Apply disciplined, process-driven, analytic methodologies. • Understand the Single Fleet Driven

Metric: Naval Aviation forces ready for tasking in the numbers required to meet Navy and Marine

Corps readiness and warfighting requirements. • Use consistent, integrated and hierarchical metrics focused on

Fleet readiness and sustainment. • Ensure full and consistent transparency of data, information and activities. • Establish and maintain accountability for actions and results. • Commit to active participation.

Research Development Test and Evaluation

With multiple locations across the United States, NAVAIR’s Naval Air Warfare Centers (Aircraft and Weapons Divisions) provide the capabilities, facilities (labs and ranges) and specialized expertise necessary for conducting research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) of naval aircraft, weapons and associated systems.

Aside from naval aviation programs, NAWC customers include other organizations within the Departments of the Navy, Army, Air Force, other

Defense Department and Federal Agencies, and international partners under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Combined, NAWCAD and NAWCWD employ between 10,000 and 11,000 and military personnel and execute more than three billion dollars in annual funds. g

The Air Combat Element (ACE) of the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) installs electric countermeasure equipment in the tail of an AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). Kearsarge is the flagship for the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and, with the embarked 26 MEU, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the US 5th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shamira Purifoy.

NAVAIR operates and schedules major open-air test ranges and ground test facilities on the East and West Coasts of the United States, in support of research, development, testing, training, systems evaluation and experimentation. NAVAIR’s simulation and stimulation laboratories develop and create synthetic and virtual battlespace environments. NAVAIR also provides air vehicle and weapons systems modifications; associated test article preparation and instrumentation; real-world threat environments; radar-cross-section measurements; specialized tracks; interconnectivity with simulation and stimulation facilities and major ranges across the country; and support for Live-Virtual-Constructive distributed events.

Assets include the Atlantic Test Ranges and Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test (IBST) Department, which contains the Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF), Surface/Aviation Interoperability Lab (SAIL), and Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) facilities (TEMPEST/EMC/NERF/EMP) at Patuxent River, Maryland; the Sea Range and Radar Reflectivity Lab (RRL) at Point Mugu, California.; the Land Ranges, Electronic Combat Range (ECR), Integrated Battle-space Arena (IBAR) and Missile Engagement Simulation Arena (MESA) at China Lake, California.

These premiere test and evaluation complexes provide support to DoD, federal agencies, commercial customers and Foreign Military Sales.

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)

With locations at Patuxent River, Maryland, Lakehurst, New Jersey, and Orlando, Florida., NAWCAD conducts research, development, test, evaluation, engineering and fleet support of Navy and Marine Corps manned and unmanned air systems, engines, avionics, surveillance systems, launch and recovery mechanisms, and air traffic control and communications systems. Related functions include aircraft modeling, simulation and analysis; systems integration of air platform subsystems, propulsion, avionics, and support systems; manufacturing production support; and in-service engineering of aircraft, propulsion, avionics, launch/recovery systems and support equipment.

NAWCAD is the steward of the ranges, test facilities, laboratories and aircraft necessary to support the Fleet’s acquisition requirements and also provides a variety of services to the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies as well as nonFederal customers.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD)

NAWCWD’s primary locations are China Lake, California, and Point Mugu, California NAWCWD serves as the full-spectrum research, development, test, evaluation, and in-service engineering center for weapons systems associated with air warfare (except antisubmarine warfare systems), missiles and missile subsystems, aircraft weapons integration, and assigned airborne electronic warfare systems.

NAWCWD operates the air, land and sea Naval Western Test Range complex, which includes the land test range at China Lake, California, and the sea test range at Point Mugu, California.

Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers COMFRC Vision

COMFRC delivers effective and efficient flight-line readiness through a globally managed, responsive and integrated sustainment system.

Mission

To produce quality airframes, engines, components and support equipment, and provide service that meet the Naval Aviation Enterprise’s aircraft ready-for-tasking goals with improved effectiveness and efficiency.

Who We Are

We are the men and women of COMFRC – the Navy’s shore-based off-aircraft and depot level aviation maintenance providers. We supply the skills, processes and facilities needed to accomplish the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aviation assets to keep the NAE ready to train, fight and win. Our 16,000 military, civilian and contractor aviation maintenance professionals deliver safe and effective airborne platforms and ground equipment to the Sailors and Marines who defend our national interests around the globe.

Why We Exist

Our mission is to produce quality airframes, engines, components and support equipment, and provide services that meet NAE’s goals. COMFRC directly supports the mission of the US Navy – to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas. In accordance with our values of Honor, Courage and Commitment, we keep our promises to our customers, remain resolute in the face of complex challenges and relentlessly pursue mission accomplishment. g

Leadership

Rear Adm. Michael Zarkowski – Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers

Martin Ahmad – Deputy Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers

Command Master Chief (AW/ NAC) Timothy McKinley – Command Master Chief, Fleet Readiness Centers

Located Around the Globe

The Navy’s eight Fleet Readiness Centers (FRCs), with locations on the US east and west coasts and in Japan, conduct maintenance, repair, and overhaul of US Navy aircraft, engines, components and support equipment. Each year roughly 6,500 Sailors and Marines, along with more than 9,500 depot artisans at the FRCs overhaul and repair nearly 1,000 aircraft, thousands of engines and several hundred thousand components valued at approximately four billion dollars.

The Eight Fleet Readiness Centers are:

• FRC Northwest at Naval Air Station

Whidbey Island, Washington • FRC West at Naval Air Station

Lemoore, California • FRC Southwest at Naval Air Station

North Island, California • FRC Southeast at Naval Air Station

Jacksonville, Florida • FRC East at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina • FRC Mid-Atlantic at Naval Air

Station Oceana, Virginia • FRC WestPac at Naval Air Facility

Atsugi, Japan • FRC Aviation Support Equipment at

Solomons Island, Maryland

Establishment of the FRCs is undoubtedly one of the most significant changes in Naval Aviation maintenance history. The FRCs move maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities as close to the flight line

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate launches an AV-8B Harrier II, attached to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), off the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4). Boxer is the flagship for the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 13th MEU, is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater cooperation efforts in the US 5th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jose Jaen.

as possible for greater efficiency, agility and speed. They provide more responsive and agile “off-flight line” repair capability by improving standardization and the ability to replicate best practices across Centers. The three Depot-level FRCs are especially beneficial to the communities where they are located.

Community Impact

FRCs impact more than just the military community; they operate closely with our civilian communities and local commercial businesses. FRCs also indirectly account for many non-military jobs and industry in the areas where they are located.

The foundation of COMFRC is its people, whose technical, business and leadership excellence sustain the levels of Current Readiness our Sailors and Marines need today and deliver the future capability they will need tomorrow. In partnership with industry, COMFRC manages this important responsibility using both organic and partnered industrial capabilities that are fine-tuned to meet the diverse challenges of the 21st Century. Process improvement and leadership development are tenants of COMFRC Workforce Strategy to support the effective management and application of command resources.

FRC East at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is North Carolina’s largest industrial employer east of I-95.

FRC Southeast at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, is the largest industrial employer in Northeast Florida/Southeast Georgia.

FRC Southwest at NAS North Island, California, is the largest aerospace employer in San Diego County.

FRCs often work closely with contractors and industry partners to help repair aircraft and components. They also employ manufacturers when in search of new technologies, parts and methods. These result in close contact between the FRCs and the community outside of the base because of the jobs they create and salaries they provide.