JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rear Adm. Mike Zarkowski, Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, visited Fleet Readiness Center Southeast on May 24, to thank employees for their high performance in providing the U.S. Navy with the aircraft and components it needs.

The aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility is having a banner year for aircraft production in 2017 under the command of Capt. Chuck Stuart.

“There have been some significant achievements this year,” Zarkowski said. “Fiscal Year 2017 has been a record year for deliveries, and that’s a credit to you.”

Along with thanking the facility as a whole, Zarkowski also made it a priority to visit the plant’s F/A-18 Hornet line, manufacturing division, trainer aircraft line and the Crinkley Engine Facility. At each stop, he presented command coins to specific employees in recognition of their hard work.

The rear admiral noted three factors that have created nearly historic demand for the work performed at the Jacksonville facility: increasing global threats, the high utilization of aircraft since Sept. 11, 2001 and a lack of military funding due to Sequestration, a series of imposed cuts in discretionary spending passed as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011.

The critical need for F/A-18 Hornet fighters remains at the pinnacle of concern for Navy leadership, Zarkowski said.

FRCSE is on pace to not only meet the Navy’s requested number of Hornets in 2017, but exceed it.

Zarkowski also noted that quality hasn’t suffered, even though the pace has increased.

“You basically rebuild these aircraft from ground-zero, then put someone’s son, daughter, brother or sister inside it,” he said. “Not once does the aircrew have to worry about the integrity of their aircraft.

“Make no mistake about it: Every aircraft you touch today will be flown, and flown into harms’ way – and we need it.”

Yet before a Navy pilot ever climbs into the clouds on a combat mission, their skills must be honed in training. This makes trainer aircraft a high priority as well.

“It all starts with trainers,” he said. “The amount of trainer aircraft we have available, directly impacts the number of pilots we can train.”

The Navy’s requirement for FRCSE’s T-44 Pegasus trainer production for FY 2017 was 14 aircraft. The facility is on track to deliver 17.

The facility’s efforts in production and quality of trainer aircraft earned a letter of praise from Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Dell Bull.

“Quality and safety are embedded at FRC Southeast,” Zarkowski said after he read the letter in front of the group. “You’ve demonstrated what you can do – and it bodes well for the future.

“Anything we send to FRCSE, whether engines, components or aircraft, we know is going to be done and done well.”

FRCSE Commanding Officer Capt. Chuck Stuart, who took command in July 2015, said the achievements wouldn’t be possible without the all-hands-on-deck mentality at the facility.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our team here at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast,” Stuart said. “The accolades from U.S. Navy leadership are always nice, but my satisfaction comes from knowing that our warfighters are getting the aircraft and components they need.

“The recognition is just a testament to the work our team does every day.”