By Gary Rice
Public Affairs Specialist

Two Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Depot Cherry Point enterprise teams comprised of artisans, engineers, and support personnel have won NAVAIR Commander’s Awards for 2002. The depot’s Wage Grade Development Enterprise Team and Theory of Constraints (TOC) Team were recognized for the vital roles they play within the NAVAIR community.

In a ceremony held at NAVAIR Headquarters at Patuxent River, Md., on June 4, VADM Joseph Dyer presented awards to teams in six categories. The Wage Grade Development Enterprise Team won in the Supporting Our People category, while the TOC Team won in the Business Strategy Achievement category. The event was broadcast across NAVAIR via a video teleconference.

The Wage Grade Development Enterprise Team was recognized for taking steps to rejuvenate the industrial trades with aggressive programs targeted at recruiting a younger workforce, reducing attrition, revitalizing the existing aging workforce, and implementing training strategies to capture knowledge. It partnered with eight local community colleges to implement the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), a work-study program involving 30 different trade skills that has benefited both the depot and the local community. Other programs and partnerships were designed to enhance the depot’s ability to maintain a fully competent and highly flexible industrial workforce required to meet current and future production needs.

Members of this team include William A. Piner, JoAnn C. Tadlock, Beverly W. Plasters (Team Lead), Mildred M. Foss, Eugene R. Gongaware, Sue P. Siever, Tommie D. Oglesby, April Solitro, Francis P. Ackliss, James V. Liesse, Brian D. Spink, Kendall R. Knight, Jesse B. Franks, Michael J. Davis, and Susie K. Lancaster.

Organized in 1999 to reduce H-46 helicopter overhaul cycle time, the TOC Team was honored for its efforts to resolve inherent conflicts found within the organization, including variability, interdependencies, and policies. The team is engaged in an extensive depot-wide initiative to reduce cycle time, improve the success rate of meeting customer due dates, and reduce the depot repair pipeline. It develops simple solutions to complex problems related to organizational functions, such as production, project management, finance, and supply chain. A practical methodology focused on results, TOC is a process of ongoing improvement within the depot.

TOC Team members include Commanding Officer Col Eugene K. Conti, Executive Officer Col John D. Gumbel, LtCol Joseph A. Mauney, Mary Beth Fennell, Greg Piner, Mark Bastyr, LtCol Louis J. Cipriani Jr., Leanna E. Radford (Team Lead), Wayne E. Corey (TOC Lead), James H. Mercer, Marlene G. Smith, David E. Campbell, Allen Anderson, David P. Bryant, Carlos M. Carcamo, Alan Casper, Tom A. Glew, Charlotte J. Malone, Cathy B. Piner, Ivey G. Piner, George R. Rice Jr., Kim S. Stewart, Judy G. Freeman, Kim E. Vail, and Keith T. Alligood.

In addition, depot personnel who are members of the V-22 Osprey Joint Program Team shared in that team’s win in the Special Achievement category. The team achieved a complete turnaround of the V-22 Tilt-rotor Program through a spiral strategy designed to provide the warfighter with revolutionary tilt-rotor technology.

NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point provides maintenance, engineering, and logistics support on a variety of aircraft, engines, and components for all branches of the U.S. armed forces. Employing almost 4,000 people, the depot is the only source of repair within the continental United States for many jet and rotary wing engines. It is the Navy’s center of excellence for rotary wing aircraft, providing engineering and logistics support for all Navy helicopters.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. More than 100 teams from around NAVAIR were nominated for awards in this third installment of the annual awards. According to VADM Dyer, the nomination packages were impressive.

“They illustrate the tremendous accomplishments of NAVAIR’s teams in support of our command’s strategic goals,” the admiral said. “Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s competition.”

Photo Caption: In the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Shop at the NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point, Machinist Training Lead Gary S. Babashanian (right) verifies data accuracy for the CNC Program with Worker-to-Journeyman Program Trainee Eric Wortham as part of the Wage Grade Development Enterprise Team’s training strategy. (Photo by Gary Rice)