The Navy’s first Black Belt class taught entirely by in-house Master Black Belts graduated from the Naval Air Systems Command July 12.

The 21 new Black Belts will work within their departments and programs to improve processes that impact speed, cost and quality of NAVAIR products and services. They join 235 NAVAIR graduates of the Black Belt program since November 2004.

"To already have NAVAIR employees as Master Black Belts teaching other Black Belts is an outstanding accomplishment," AIRSpeed Program Manager Capt. Robert Novak said.

"This milestone represents an important strategic shift from dependence on contractor-supplied training to our own Master Black Belts as instructors," added Stu Young, AIRSpeed executive director and director, Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department, AIR-5.4.

According to Master Black Belts Tom LaBatt and Barry Barefoot, NAVAIR instructors co-taught the previous Black Belt class with Master Black Belts from the George Group as part of the shift toward self-sustainment.

"Teaching reinforces the material, so we get a lot out of every class," said Barefoot.

Barefoot and LaBatt were among the first Master Black Belts NAVAIR selected. Prior to becoming a Black Belt Barefoot served as PMA-257 deputy program manager. LaBatt was the class desk at the Test Pilot School.

Reflecting on the in-house training experience, new Black Belt Ron Deville, from Weapons Division Threat Systems Branch said, "These guys were good. They were knowledgeable and could relate what they were teaching to specifics in NAVAIR and the Navy. They can talk about how it really applies, a real-world slant."

"The instructors were excellent," agreed classmate Joanne Wills of the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer (DoN CIO). "Their enthusiasm infused the entire learning experience, making it that much more effective. I can already see results starting to accrue in my current project."

"They set a high bar," added Black Belt graduate Jose Rodriguez, referring to the Master Black Belt instructors. "They are excellent teachers. They’re fun and have a lot of energy. They feed off each other."

Rodriguez, a self-proclaimed skeptic, earned a Green Belt after participating in an AIRSpeed project for PMA-265.

"I’m always a devil’s advocate, but when I saw the results I became an advocate of AIRSpeed. It works," he said. "That experience got me interested in becoming a Black Belt. I also wanted to earn it through the NAVAIR Leadership Development Program because of the leadership skills I’ll gain through the NLDP. All of these skills are important in leading the organization, and I want to be a leader."

Master Black Belts Tom LaBatt and Barry Barefoot, who taught the class, gave much of the credit for class success to the students themselves.

"It’s a lot of hard work but enjoyable because of the students," said Barefoot. "They asked great questions and had really productive discussions. They got very close as a class. They looked out for each other."

"It’s an intense four months," LaBatt noted. "The people in the class really made it fun. They connected not just on the material but on a personal level."

"They are top quality," he added. "They’re very bright and enthusiastic. They’re ready to get out there and make changes and reach the Fleet with improvements. The NLDP selection process is obviously working."

Barefoot agreed. "I definitely saw future leaders there. Teaching their class was very rewarding," he said.

NAVAIR personnel can earn Black Belts as part of the NAVAIR Leadership Development Program (NLDP) on a part-time or full-time basis, or independent of the development program. NLDP applications are due to the command July 23. Applications are available on the MyNAVAIR Career Development community of interest, https://mynavair.navair.navy.mil.

CAPTION: Black Belt graduates, instructors and leaders from left to right, front row: Stu Young, John Schmelzle, Sabrina Martin, Michele Marien, Joyce Owens, Joanne Wills, Denise Gontarek, Rob Mattedi, Karen Magnelli, Arron Bolin, Ron Deville; Back row: Barry Barefoot, Chris Clayton, Greg Geiger, Jewel Wall, Greg Martin, Karl Voigt, Dennis Narlock, Jose Rodriguez, Don Coles, Dave Purdy, Paul Campos, Alex Miller, Tom LaBatt

-USN-