PATUXENT RIVER, MD – Rear Adm. Timothy Matthews recently assumed the duties of Commander Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) which includes six major Fleet Readiness Centers (FRCs) and a number of affiliated FRC sites. In an informal ceremony Aug. 19 Matthews relieved Rear Adm. Paul Grosklags who has now taken on the duties of Vice Commander of the Naval Air Systems Command.

Commander Naval Air Forces Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline Jr. conducted an informal reading of the orders in historic Building 8 of Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, Calif. Matthews was joined by colleagues, family and friends for a frocking ceremony Sept. 10. at the home of Commander Naval Air Systems Command Vice Adm. David J. Venlet.

"Building trust in an atmosphere of transparency and collaboration will strengthen our work force and improve our ability to provide combat ready aircraft resulting in the highest degree of combat readiness at the right cost to the war fighter," Matthews said in his first all hands meeting with COMFRC staff.

Matthews was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and grew up in Chevy Chase, Md., and various overseas locations. He attended the University of Colorado and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1980.

Commissioned in August 1982 through the Aviation Officer Candidate School, Matthews was designated an Aeronautical Maintenance Duty Officer in 1983. His first acquisition tour was an assignment to the Naval Air Systems Command Support Equipment Program Office (PMA-260) as the Fleet Introduction Team Leader for the Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) from 1997-1999.

In 2002 Matthews was assigned to the Naval Air Depot (NADEP), Jacksonville, Florida, as Production Officer for a 4,000-person depot. Beginning in Sept. 2004, Matthews served as Director, Joint Depot Maintenance Activities Group, Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He was selected for command of the Naval Air Depot Jacksonville in 2004, reported as Executive Officer in 2005 and assumed command of FRC Southeast in 2007.

FRCs represent the most significant change in Naval aircraft maintenance in 50 years. By 2011, it is estimated that FRCs will save the Navy $1.2 billion in repair costs and improve combat readiness through the integration of CONUS, shore-based depot maintainers and intermediate level technicians.

By transforming and moving depot aircraft maintenance closer to the war fighter, FRCs assure improved readiness at the best value to the Navy.

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