By Lt. Mike Randazzo, USNR, Air Systems Program Public Affairs Officer

For outstanding initiative, leadership, and management skills that provided nearly 900 hours of direct contributory support to four critical Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) projects, Lt. Cmdr. Barton W. LaGrone, USNR, has been named the 2003 Air Systems Program (ASP) Junior Officer of the Year.

Rear Adm. Mark Hazara, Director, Naval Reserve Air Systems Program, presented the award during the recent 2003 Commanding Officers Conference held at Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Md.

The annual accolade primarily recognizes LaGrone's significant contributions while serving as the projects officer of NAVAIRSYSCOM 0393. Based in Newport, R.I., the command is one of five ASP reserve units that provide operational support to the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). Headquartered at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., NAWCAD is the Navy's full spectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support center. LaGrone skillfully matched individual unit member skills, experience, and civilian expertise to bolster critical NAWCAD and other NAVAIR warfighting technology initiatives.

Most noteworthy was LaGrone's leadership role in coordinating support for the Hairy Buffalo test aircraft, noted Cmdr. Bill Hendricks, commanding officer of NAVAIRSYSCOM 0393. "He was directly responsible for unit participation that delivered over 140 hours of high-quality engineering and tactical aircrew experience for uploading new precision targeting workstation software, project preparation services, and operating targeting software and systems support during Giant Shadow, a major air-surface exercise," Hendricks said.

LaGrone was also responsible for engineering operational support for NAVAIR’s Science and Technology Intelligence Liaison Office (STILO). Over 236 hours were devoted to augmenting the civilian staff of security specialists and analysts, and making real-time intelligence analysis available to NAVAIR. Through his efforts, the unit supported STILO every weekend during Operation Iraqi Freedom hostilities except one.

LaGrone balanced these efforts with two NAVAIR projects, one that supported the system command's major technical publications initiative, and one that placed subject matter experts for the advanced Hawkeye program where they were needed most.

Under his leadership, the unit added measurable value to the naval aviation maintenance discrepancy reporting program managed by AIR-3.1. Unit members screened over 2,000 technical publication deficiency reports at NAWCAD, Lakehurst, N.J., providing 192 hours of assistance for this ASP initiative.

In civilian life, LaGrone is the product test program manager for the Advanced Hawkeye System Design and Demonstration Program at Northrop Grumman, Bethpage, N.Y. When another ASP unit requested Hawkeye-specific quality deficiency report and earned value management expertise in the Long Island, N.Y. area, he immediately identified and deployed unit experts to the prime contractor’s Bethpage facility. This tiger team supplied 152 hours of on-site assistance.

"It is a testimony to LaGrone’s leadership and organizational talent that he effectively managed all four of these high-visibility, positive-impact projects, ensuring all received sufficient resources were performed to the satisfaction and quality standards of our NAVAIR customers," Hazara noted.

"I'm continually inspired by the overwhelming talent and professionalism of our Air Systems Program reservists like Lt. Cmdr. LaGrone. Their commitment, wealth of knowledge and eager willingness to take on any task to support operational fleet programs is truly exemplary," added Rear Adm. Tim Heely, commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division.

The Air Systems Program provides qualified and diverse civilian and military experience in operational support of NAVAIR research and development, engineering, program management, logistics, and industrial capability activities. The 600 Naval Reserve officer and enlisted men and women of the ASP train constantly to respond to evolving NAVAIR missions enabling the organization to harvest tangible cost reductions for fleet recapitalization. The ASP is comprised of 32 commands that are headquartered in 14 states.

For more information, contact Lt. Mike Randazzo via e-mail at [email protected].

PHOTO CAPTION: Lt. Cmdr. Barton W. LaGrone, USNR, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIRSYSCOM) 0393, is awarded the 2003 Air Systems Program (ASP) Junior Officer of the Year from Rear Adm. Mark Hazara, Director, Air Systems Program. As a result of LaGrone’s leadership as NAVAIRSYSCOM 0393's project officer, unit members provided NAVAIR with about 900 hours of operational support during FY-03.