Architzel Hands Out Awards

By NAVAIR Public Affairs

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 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.

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.

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.”