By Betsy Haley
NAVAIR Focus Group Executive Secretariat

For a more concentrated focus and integration of NAVAIR’s worldwide activities, the Command Strategic Coordinating Group (CSCG) was created to vet national proposals and initiatives before presentation to the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) for direction and approval.

“My objectives with this modified ELC/focus group construct are clear and consistent – alignment with our Navy, and alignment within NAVAIR,” said VADM Joe Dyer, NAVAIR commander. “These changes will help to ensure an effective and efficient set of strategic vectors to guide NAVAIR along the journey. As stewards to the whole, with a shared accountability, it will also help us ensure that our efforts are focused, well integrated and responsive to support the needs of the Warfighter.”

The group is co-led by NAVAIR vice commander, RADM Bert Johnston, and deputy commander, Dr. Al Somoroff. The CSCG will help the ELC set the necessary strategic course for the command and integrate the work of focus groups and on-going task teams.

"VADM Dyer and others saw the NAVAIR Executive Leadership Council as a good discussion forum and a good venue for the senior leaders to gain situation awareness of issues, but our aim is to strengthen it’s role as NAVAIR’s "Board of Directors", said Johnston. “We operate as a sub-set of the ELC membership to help the leadership team set strategic alignment for the command. The CSCG takes on the in-depth examination of near-term and long-range issues that influence NAVAIR’s future, and provides coordination and "stick and rudder" for the NAVAIR Focus Group activities," Johnston said.

Operationally, the CSCG focuses on a small set of prioritized strategic tasks, works each task to successful completion and then makes appropriate recommendations to the ELC. The CSCG uses the NAVAIR focus groups to research and investigate these strategic issues, develop and explore alternative approaches, and develop recommended solutions for ELC consideration and approval. This process allows senior leaders to concentrate on setting strategic direction to shape command structures, operations, and ensure requisite technical and business capabilities that are aligned to overall Navy goals and objectives, and meet the needs of the Warfighter.

Somoroff explained the relationship between the CSCG and the focus groups. “The focus groups are working on things that have a timeline for mid to long term goals,” Somoroff said. “The CSCG is working to harness the knowledge and talent of the employees within the focus groups to deal with emergent and shorter-term issues. “

Immediate goals and key priorities of the CSCG include: the Navy Virtual Systems Command, Navy Capabilities Development Process, Navy Installation Consolidation Initiative (more commonly referred to as Regionalization), Navy Sea Enterprise Initiative, and the Navy Disinvestment Strategy.

“The Navy has a specific vision in the framework of Sea Power 21 to align, organize and integrate to meet challenges that lie ahead,” Somoroff said. “The CSCG will support the Navy’s effort through NAVAIR’s diverse activities, and point us in the direction of Sea Power 21. The CSCG will align our current capabilities, activities and vision more tangibly with the overall goals and vision of the Navy.”

The ELC was established in July 2000 to serve as the NAVAIR Board of Directors. Soon after, five national focus groups were stood up as the action arms of the ELC. Concurrent with stand-up of the CSCG, changes in the focus group construct were also enacted. There are four NAVAIR focus groups supporting the CSCG: People, Process, Warfighter and the new Business/ Resources Focus Group. These focus groups are comprised of members from across NAVAIR, and include representation from competencies, programs, and business units to provide broad insight, perspectives, and functional expertise in research issues and developing alternative solutions.

For more information, contact the NAVAIR Focus Group Executive Secretariat Enterprise Team at [email protected].