We are the Naval Rotorcraft Community!
Although NACRA was created by the 2005 BRAC language, the reality is that the Naval rotorcraft community has had a real need for just such an initiative -- a cross-platform/program advocate for issues and technologies. Acquisition’s very nature is such that programs and competencies are not incentivized to put their own priorities aside to work for cross-program benefits when those benefits may come at some expense to program performance. NACRA addresses that challenge!
With a combined effort, we’re confident that a small organization can effect change through collaborative effort and some mutual sacrifice for the greater good. NACRA promotes collaboration, awareness, communication and coordination across the Rotorcraft Community (stakeholders, process owners and resource sponsors) to define, focus and advance rotorcraft requirements, technologies and capabilities. In general, we're helping the members of the Rotorcraft Community prepare for the future while also remaining ready, capable and affordable in the present.
From using our flying test beds to evaluate promising nascent technology, to helping develop the strategic plan for future vertical lift, to leading efforts to coordinate common technology development and implementation, to developing a network to share information and collaborate on initiatives, NACRA navigates the programmatic and team boundaries to leverage success. The road to the future is a perilous journey, but together we can get there successfully to support the war fighter.
We recognize that some of our initiatives and areas of operation may be seen as overlapping the responsibilities of other offices, programs and teams within NAVAIR. Our view is that we complement and support those efforts in pursuit of the larger goal of successfully moving the Naval Rotorcraft community forward in an era of tightening budgets and elusive resources. To succeed, we must work together.
I hope you will find opportunities for collaboration with NACRA to achieve your own goals, as well as to improve the rotorcraft community as a whole. As the Samurai adage states, "None of us is as smart as all of us."
At the NACRA, we believe the time is right for a Revolution in Rotorcraft! We hope you'll join us!
Background
The Naval Aviation Center for Rotorcraft Advancement is a BRAC 2005-mandated organization charged with addressing and improving communication and coordination across the Navy and Marine Corps rotorcraft community. NACRA works with stake holders and process owners to identify common needs, processes and requirements across program and service boundaries to identify, help or execute common, leveraged solutions.
Working in partnership with other Dept. of Defense organizations, academia and the rotorcraft industry, NACRA cuts across stovepiped efforts to meet cross-platform cost, schedule and performance issues faced by maritime manned and unmanned rotary wing acquisition programs.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BASE CLOSURE AND REALIGNMENT REPORT - VOLUME I MAY 2005
Recommendation:
Recommendation: Realign Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH, by relocating Air Force Materiel Command V-22 activities in rotary wing air platform development and acquisition to Patuxent River, MD. Realign the Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, NJ, by relocating activities in rotary wing air platform development, acquisition, test and evaluation to Patuxent River, MD. Realign Ft. Rucker, AL, by relocating the Aviation Technical Test Center to Redstone Arsenal, AL, and consolidating it with the Technical Test Center at Redstone Arsenal, AL. Realign Warner-Robins Air Force Base, GA, by relocating activities in rotary wing air platform development and acquisition to Redstone Arsenal, AL.
Justification:
This Air Land Sea & Space (ALSS) recommendation realigns and consolidates those activities that are primarily focused on Rotary Wing Air Platform activities in Development, Acquisition, Test and Evaluation (DAT&E). This action creates the Joint Center for Rotary Wing Air Platform DAT&E at the Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, and enhances the Joint Center at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River, MD. The end state of this recommendation builds upon existing rotary wing air platform technical expertise and facilities in place at the two principal sites and provides focused support for future aviation technological advances in rotorcraft development.