By Betsy Haley
NAVAIR Focus Group Executive Secretariat

For continuous efforts to identify Fleet "head-hurters" and serving as an effective conduit for Fleet issues, members of the Sustainment subgroup were presented letters of commendation on September 5 by Rear Admirals Wally Massenburg and James Godwin, co-leaders of the Warfighter Focus Group (WFG).

"This subgroup has done a wonderful job contributing to the Warfighter Focus Group and your accomplishments will last beyond your tenure," said Massenburg.

Through interaction and communication with key Fleet members, the Sustainment subgroup was able to identify areas within NAVAIR that could improve its service to Fleet, pinpoint and pursue the root causes of Fleet concerns, and then identify NAVAIR action officers to work the concern with Fleet members.

"Bottom line - the group got in front of the head-hurters list and resolved as many issues as possible," commended Massenburg. "The group has demonstrated their personal commitment to the fleet."

Through the subgroup members’ interaction and association with the Fleet, the WFG was able to establish new links with them, which helped NAVAIR to better address issues that potentially have broad impact, such as engineering investigations and the Configuration Control Board.

"The subgroup’s contributions have helped provide a road map for NAVAIR’s quest to "see ourselves through the Fleet’s eyes and measure our success by their success," said Godwin.

Members of the subgroup receiving letters of commendation and coins include:
Rick Reckert
Lori Frame
CAPT Andy Mohler
CDR Mike Berens
Rob Lessel
William Taylor
Jim Ervin
CAPT Mark Swaney
Eddie Riley
Monty Jones
CAPT Samuel Coward
Ron Rush
AMCS (AW), (Ret) Timothy Johnsrude

For more information on the WFG, contact the NAVAIR Focus Group Executive Secretariat by email at [email protected].

Photo by Roger LeJeune
From left to right: Members of the sustainment subgroup - CDR Micheal Berens, Richard Reckert, Monty Jones and Jim Ervin.