by Michael Berkin
AIR-3.3B

Late one Florida night, an engineer, a logistician, a planner-estimator and a couple of depot artisans are huddling to devise the best way to repair a complicated engine component. At Patuxent River Naval Air Station (PAX), surrounded by state-of-the-art aircraft and test equipment, a pilot and structural engineer mull over important test data that validates their research. Halfway round the world in the Persian Gulf, two sheet metal mechanics are miraculously resurrecting a broken F/A-18 Hornet.

What these seemingly disparate groups have in common is that they all belong to three separate Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) commands each recently awarded the Navy’s Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for separate actions related to their performance in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations recognized Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (Fl.), Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Twenty-Three (VX-23), and the U.S. Naval Air Pacific Repair Activity (NAPRA) for their key efforts to support and sustain our operational forces during this recent conflict.

Jacksonville is one of three NAVAIR industrial depots responsible for the depot-level repair of aircraft and components. From October 2001 to November 2002, its 4,500 civil servants, military and contractor personnel provided maintenance, engineering, logistics and support service to the Navy and Marine Corps operating forces in Operations Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch and Northern Watch. Commanded by Capt. Karl Yeakel at the time, the depot responded to a serious fleet-wide J-52 engine bare firewall problem. The team reduced the engine repair cycle by half and accelerated engine production by an average of more than two a month.

The same type of aggressiveness was applied to the TF-34, T-56, and CFM-56 engine production lines. To support emerging OEF requirements, the depot made history by exceeding component production records, producing 46,796 engine components and forty 300-gallon common fuel drop tanks within a three-week period. According to Capt. Dave Beck, the depot’s current commanding officer, “The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a high-level award, and for a shore command to receive it speaks volumes about the dedication of our work force to support the warfighter. I am very proud to be their commanding officer.”

VX-23 is NAVAIR’s Atlantic test and evaluation squadron for strike aircraft, located at Patuxent River, Md, and commanded by Captain Stephen Rorke. Rusty Lowery, the squadron’s technical director, stated, “Strike is the Navy’s largest test squadron. We’ve been doing a lot of important work for Naval Aviation for a long time and it’s good to see the men and women, both military and civilian, of this squadron get recognized in this manner.” They were awarded the MUC for their excellence in aircraft research, development, test and evaluation during the period of August 2000 to October 2002. The test squadron completed 465 highly critical test projects for the Joint Strike Fighter, X-31, EA-6B, T-45 and F/A-18E/F aircraft, while surpassing 42,000 mishap-free flight hours.

Their testing of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) M-82, Digital Flight Control System, Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminal, and the Joint Precision Approach Landing System all had direct impact for frontline operational forces during OEF. Additionally, their flight-testing of the F/A-18E/F ensured that the first operational Super Hornet squadrons deployed on time. Lowery commented, “The unrelenting “can-do” attitude of every member of this squadron ensured that weapons systems with the newest and best capabilities were tested and delivered on time to operating forces during the conflict.”

NAVAIR proved its global reach during OEF through the depot aircraft repair work provided to the operating forces by its forward-based commands. NAPRA—headquartered in Atsugi, Japan, with detachments in Okinawa, Korea, Singapore and Australia—coordinates depot-level maintenance for Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, support equipment and components of units in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. In-service repair is done concurrently with scheduled depot maintenance, NAPRA’s primary responsibility.

From September 2001 to October 2002, they provided exceptional depot-level maintenance to eight Pacific-deployed carrier battle groups and four amphibious ready groups. Using permanently assigned field maintenance teams to every carrier deployed to the Fifth and Seventh Fleets, they successfully accomplished 145 extensive, depot-level aircraft repairs at sea on 18 ships, plus performing several high-visibility missions into Afghanistan and Pakistan to restore valuable aircraft to flight status.

Through reprioritization of ongoing scheduled maintenance, they were able to deliver 14 vital aircraft in only 10 days for the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)/Carrier Air Wing Five’s October 2001 no-notice deployment. Cmdr. Richard Dorn, NAPRA’s current commanding officer, had this to say about the award: “The Meritorious Unit Commendation reflects the unwavering commitment to performance excellence by NAPRA personnel. It serves as a symbol to inspire the command to continue to excel in its mission of fleet depot maintenance support.”

These three recent Meritorious Unit Commendation awards by Navy leadership to NAVAIR commands only continue to validate what those at NAVAIR already know: NAVAIR supports the fleet!

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.