Submitted by PMA-260.

The NAWCAD Lakehurst Logistics Systems Analysis Department (Code 3.6) is the designated "Continuation Of Operations" (COOP) Site supporting the Support Equipment Management System (SEMS) for all of Naval Aviation Support Equipment (SE). The production site for this computer system that determines SE inventory allowancing and monitors SE world-wide positioning is located at SPAWAR ITC New Orleans.

On Monday afternoon, September 13, 2004, at approximately 3:30 p.m., NAWC Lakehurst team members received a phone call from NAVAIR's Aviation Support Equipment program office (PMA260) and learned that New Orleans may be in the direct path of Hurricane Ivan. Joint Reserve Base (JRB) New Orleans determined it was necessary and prudent to secure the base. Consequently, NAVAIR and SPAWAR ITC New Orleans decided to shut down all of the computer servers to prevent system collapse, starting at 3:00 p.m., September 13, 2004.

As a result of the JRB New Orleans closure, NAVAIR made a decision to activate the COOP Site at Lakehurst to maintain system access and SE support for operational commands. Although all planned testing for COOP Site Activation had not yet been accomplished; the Lakehurst team rose to the occasion.

The team laid out a course of action to implement the COOP Site Standup. This course of action was developed by representatives from the Logistics Systems Analysis Department and the SPAWAR ITC group. Both sites agreed upon specific elements for accomplishment and proceeded with their individual tasks. Full backups of the system were initiated by SPAWAR ITC and were completed at approximately 10:00 p.m. The transfer of the data base was then initiated, with both teams working seamlessly to successful completion at approximately 2:30 a.m. on September 14, 2004.

Testing runs of the data base were generated to ensure error free transfer. Both teams finally said good night at 3:20 a.m. The Lakehurst team had help-desk support coverage, commencing at 6:30 a.m. on September 14, 2004. When world-wide SEMS users arrived for work on September 15, 2004, they were greeted with several e-mails giving them the new IP Address to access the functional SEMS System. The transfer of operations back to SPAWAR ITC New Orleans was accomplished at noon on Friday, September 17. Full system functionality was in New Orleans on Monday, September 20.

The extraordinary circumstances of this event are only seconded by the superb performance of the NAVAIR/SPAWAR team members involved. This seamless transfer of functionality and data is without precedence and ably demonstrates NAVAIR's long-term investment strategies in support of the goals and vision of NAVAIR's Cost-Wise Readiness initiatives.