From AIRSpeed Executive Steering Committee

Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), mandated the new Fleet Response Plan (FRP) to support emerging fleet and contingency operations in the Global War on Terrorism. The naval logistics community has focused its integration and modernization contributions to enabling FRP into a concept called AIRSpeed.

FRP is designed to ensure an increase to the Navy’s flexibility and responsiveness. FRP modifies current ship and air wing operating cycles to extend the interval between maintenance periods. Training and manpower processes will also require modification. These changes will increase the time each ship and squadron is available to surge should operations be required. FRP requirements are scheduled for implementation this month. In addition to the impact on the FRP with current funding levels, Naval Aviation leadership must innovatively continue supporting current levels of readiness despite a fiscal year 2005 budget shortage.

In order to meet the CNO’s requirements, a unique capability that supports force protection and cost-wise flexibility and responsiveness is needed. Many Navy leaders agree that the Theory of Constraints (TOC) architecture that fits under the Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement program (NAVRIIP) umbrella is crucial to satisfying organizational, intermediate and depot maintenance and supply requirements.

This naval logistics integration and modernization solution is formally defined as AIRSpeed. TOC for the Naval Aviation Enterprise is designed to integrate the decision-making processes of asset positioning and visibility with those of planning and scheduling across the entire logistics chain. In addition to TOC, Lea and Six Sigma, other process improvement tools will be introduced where appropriate to increase efficiencies and achieve cost-wise readiness.

AIRSpeed will make a lasting and profound logistical and cultural change in the way Naval Aviation maintains and supplies the Fleet across Naval Aviation. AIRSpeed provides for the expeditious repair and replenishment of critical items and assets needed to achieve and support cost-wise readiness.

The scope of AIRSpeed includes support for Naval Aviation maintenance activities (organizational, intermediate, and depot), naval supply activities (retail and wholesale), and associated headquarters functions. These include, but are not limited to Navy and Marine Corps aviation maintenance and supply facilities ashore, afloat and abroad and NAVAIR Depots at Jacksonville, Fla.; Cherry Point, N.C.; and North Island, Calif.; Naval Air Mediterranean Repair Activity, Naval Air Pacific Repair Activity and Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP). The information systems used in the enterprise will be assessed and gaps will be addressed. Those systems include the Naval Aviation Logistics Command Manager Information System/Optimized Operation Maintenance Activity, R-Supply, SIGMA, SMART, and manufacturing resource planning.

The AIRSpeed initiative falls under the provider organization of the NAVRIIP. NAVRIIP is a comprehensive program designed to make fundamental process changes to the way the Navy provides manpower, equipment, maintenance, supply and training to stateside Naval Aviation commands between deployments.

An executive steering committee (ESC) will provide the overarching guidance for the AIRSpeed initiative. The AIRSpeed ESC is comprised of members from Commander Naval Air Forces, Headquarters Marine Corps, Commander Naval Air Forces – Atlantic, NAVAIR Logistics and Depot competencies, NAVICP, Defense Logistics Agency and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The ESC will provide oversight for the AIRSpeed project office, which is housed in the NAVAIR Logistics competency and will provide updates to NAVRIIP leadership via the provider organization.

AIRSpeed training and the rollout is scheduled to begin in this month. For more information on AIRSpeed, please contact Ann Kuntz ([email protected]). For more information on NAVRIIP, contact NAVAIR Public Affairs at 301-757-5695 or link to http://www.airpac.navy.mil/navriip/.