By Gary Rice
Public Affairs Specialist

Employees of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Depot Cherry Point have a lot to be proud of, now more than ever.

Upon completion of its inspection of the depot June 16-30, the NAVAIR Aviation Maintenance Management Team (AMMT) declared Cherry Point to be the best depot employed by the Navy. The team evaluated 52 maintenance programs during their inspection and found the facility to be effective in the overall maintenance and rework of aircraft.

The AMMT inspection is conducted every 18 months. The inspectors assign subjective grades to each on-track program, ranging from Needs Attention to Outstanding. The grades, which are meant to help determine the level of effectiveness in each program, are based solely on the inspectors’ experience and comparative findings from previous activities.

Of the 52 programs inspected at the depot, 12 were found to be outstanding and 23 were excellent. There were no critical discrepancies noted, and only one program was found to be off track.

“The results of this inspection were nothing less than extraordinary,” Commanding Officer Col John D. Gumbel said. “In the inspection team’s words, we are the benchmark for the Navy depots. For a facility of our size to have only one out of 52 programs off track is amazing!”

“This was the best AMMT inspection we’ve experienced in 10 years,” AMMT Coordinator Paul C. Johnson Jr. added. “To be called ‘the best’ and to be considered a benchmark to be compared to is outstanding. The success of this inspection was made possible by the conscientious efforts of all the employees of this facility. The results of the inspection speak loud and clear of the dedication everyone put forth in making sure that the previously identified actions were completed. It is evident that depot employees not only corrected the problems but identified and eliminated the root causes. Such expertise, positive attitudes, and dedication are greatly appreciated.”

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.

“This is unbelievable!” Shore Station Management Group Head Jimmy E. Dickinson said. “I believe that our continual emphasis on programs like ISO, TOC, and C3 was instrumental in the accomplishment of such high praise.”

The Commanding Officer added his praise for the depot’s employees and congratulated them for a job well done. “Our progress since the last inspection 18 months ago has been remarkable,” he said. “Our job now is to continue to improve and work off those repeat gripes. We are entering a critical two-year period for our depot, and these kind of results will help ensure our continued success.”

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technologies through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From aircraft and weapons development to carrier launch and recovery; from sensors to real-time communications to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons sustainment to state-of-the-art training; NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.

Photo Caption: Aviation Maintenance Management Team (AMMT) Coordinator Paul C. Johnson Jr. (right) assists as Quality Assurance Specialist Glenn Schwarz inspects a CH-46 aft transmission for foreign object debris (FOD) prior to installation in the H-46 Hangar at the NAVAIR Depot Cherry Point. Schwarz is an employee in the Industrial Quality Department, one of the 12 programs that received a grade of Outstanding in the depot's June 16-30 AMMT inspection. (Photo by Gary Rice)