NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — A new program office created by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is changing the way warfighters' urgent and emergent needs are met.

 Launched in November at the Naval Air Systems Command at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the Rapid Response Program was created after a recent NAWCAD study indicated a need for a consolidated team to support the Integrated Warfighting Capability effort, which executes high-priority DoD needs.

"Before this office, our rapid capabilities existed in pockets throughout the command," said Robert Smith, director for NAWCAD's Rapid Response office. "With the goal of 'speed to the fleet,' we had to look at how we could respond to that and make it part of our everyday way of doing business."

 Dan Skane, NAWCAD director of Acquisition Management, said the Rapid Response program provides critical operational capabilities for time-sensitive operational needs.

 "My focus is to help teams identify a streamlined approach that delivers a capability rapidly, while maintaining the same high-degree of acquisition management rigor found in more traditional programs," Skane added.

 One Rapid Response community has already made successful deliveries to meet warfighters' requirements. The NAWCAD created Persistent Ground Surveillance System (PGSS) to fulfill an urgent need at overseas combat locations. PGSS is a tethered aerostat, or a balloon filled with lighter than air gas, with surveillance equipment that provides situational awareness and security to forward-operating bases.

"Rapid Response allows us to take greater risk than 'business as usual,' as the goal is to expedite fielding of a critical capability, including planning and executing an abbreviated test program," Smith said. "We want to build in processes that we can go to when needed and have a network of experts and capabilities. We are also looking at other agency's rapid processes to prevent reinventing the wheel."

Additionally, the Rapid Response office plans to use the expertise provided by the NAVAIR Fellows, a peer-oriented program of experienced NAWCAD engineers, to provide rapid response services, Smith said.  He added that the group will also network NAWCAD, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division and Fleet Readiness Center capabilities together, emphasizing how systems connect and what the capabilities are.

“As we exploit our capabilities and re-focus on providing products for mission areas, we'll uncover the ability to do things for which we may not have originally planned and establish more and more networks that enable this rapid response, including testing and subsequent fielding of systems," Smith said.