Briefing’s Message: Faster Deliverables, New Technology
US Must Keep Military Tech Ahead of Its Adversaries
“Speed to the Fleet” packed the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum at The Patuxent Partnership and Association of Naval Aviation’s Squadron 18’s panel discussion on Sept. 15, 2016.
Keynote speaker RADM De Wolfe “Bullet” Miller, Director of Air Warfare, OPNAV N98, opened the briefing after introductions by TPP Executive Director Bonnie Green and ANA Squadron 18 Commanding Officer CAPT Mark Converse, USN (Ret).
RADM Miller was joined by Dr. John Burrow, SES, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research Development, Test and Evaluation; RDML (select) Carl Chebi, Vice Commander, NAVAIR; RDML Shane Gahagan, Commander, NAWCAD, Assistant Commander for Research and Engineering, NAVAIR; and Christian Utara, National Director for the Rapid Capability Engineering and Integration Department, NAVAIR, AIR-4.11.
The briefing focused on the need for faster deliverables, to maintain fleet readiness in a rapidly changing theater of war. Vaulting US military technology beyond that of our adversaries, some of whom are threatening US technological superiority, was another key topic.
Earlier this year, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson announced creation of a Maritime Accelerated Capabilities Office (MACO), based on the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office. MACO will create a “speed lane” for mature programs to be fielded with less risk.
These senior leaders emphasized to the nearly 150 people in attendance, including many defense contractors, that to bring this about will foster greater competition among contractors, big and small.
This is the first time in a quarter century that significant competitiveness from adversarial nations and players is on a level with the US, said RADM Miller, in introducing the briefing. It is the first time, since World War II, that Naval Aviation has faced a significant air threat, he said. “We need to incorporate NAVAIR technologies into naval flight and into whole flight.”
“Our role,” said Dr. Burrow, “is to take an idea, and technologically deliver a capability, as fast as we possibly can. To accomplish that, I’m a believer in prototype,” he said.
This approach, explained RDML (select) Chebi, is creating a “critical need” to find ways to change the “risk aversion culture” that slows down invention and delivery of important and very needed new technologies.
RDML Gahagan gave an example. “The risk of being yelled at by my boss, or the Pentagon, for not following policy, that’s not risk. … [The] risk of not getting the product out is bigger than leaving off number 89” on a check list.
The culture needs to change, RDML Gahagan said. “Our adversaries are right behind us.”
Mr. Utara, National Director for the Rapid Capability Engineering and Integration Department, NAVAIR, AIR-4.11, also emphasized that risk aversion must be kept at the “appropriate level … “File early, file fast, prototype,” he advised.
“DO IT NOW, in all caps,” he said, use open solutions and open systems, allow quick re-applications. “If we need it in three months, we can’t start at the beginning.”
Mr. Utara extolled the industry to help further these immediate needs by supporting STEM efforts. The future efforts will be to foster competition among those contractors.
“We don’t want to be reactive to [our enemies],” said Dr. Burrow. “We want them to be reactive to us.”
About The Patuxent Partnership
The Patuxent Partnership works with government, industry, and academia on initiatives in science and technology, hosts programs of interest to NAVAIR and the broader DoD community, and supports workforce development including education initiatives and professional development. Call 301-866-1739.
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