EDITORS NOTE: This is one of six articles which can be updated by NAVAIR site to include local team participants.

By Robin Lundberg, NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

Living up to its acronym, the team dubbed FIRST (F/A-18E/F Integrated Readiness Support Team) did not follow the norm in achieving its mission. And according to F/A-18 Program Manager, Capt. Jeff Wieringa, whom Vice Adm. Joe Dyer referred to as the hardest working man in NAVAIR, that is precisely the reason the team received the "Resources and Affordability Achievement" Commander's Award at a recent ceremony.

Wieringa exclaimed that FIRST succeeded due to each individual's "tremendous courage to set aside tradition." He went on to declare the team's effort "a victory over the comfort and ways of doing things that kept us constrained. It was a victory of intellect over bureaucracy."

FIRST's contract itself was a bold step, according to Don Snyder Director of Logistics for the F/A-18 Program.

"The award of the initial two-year $251.9 million FIRST contract was a monumental achievement for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Defense because it fostered an unparalleled partnership between government and industry."

The FIRST program was designed to improve and manage logistics system performance. One goal of the program was to display an innovative approach toward acquisition reform. In addition, the program has attempted to take unique steps in its design to be invisible to the warfighter, while taking a hands on approach to logistics support.

"FIRST gives the Navy the opportunity to procure logistical support from the contractor that builds the airplane and who is in the position of making the best long- term decisions for the lowest total life-cycle cost of the F/A-18E/F aircraft," Snyder added.

Dyer noted the resources FIRST has brought to the fleet.

"Benefits to the fleet are numerous and include improved material availability through quicker response times, optimal use of transportation, total asset visibility, tools to manage the logistics system and increased system reliability," Dyer said.

The team's unique approach not only provided the resources, but the affordability as well, as the admiral stated.

"This team anticipates producing savings and cost avoidances by as much as $129 million over the next five-year period," he said.

Photo by Kurt Langfield

Photo Caption: Vice Adm. Dyer presents the Commander's Award to Capt. Jeff Wieringa, accepting on behalf of the F402 group, as Rear Adm. Johnston looks on.