Named after ASN (RDA) Dr. Delores M. Etter, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award recognizes the best military and civilian engineers and scientists while inspiring the field’s future generations. Only the top engineers and scientists are considered for this accolade to recognize their exceptional achievements and contributions to the department of defense. The highly competitive selection process illustrates the level of excellence and professionalism exhibited by the Navy’s best and brightest in the engineering community.

Since its establishment in 1943, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has grown and adapted to meet ever-changing national defense needs. Today, teams of expert artisans, engineers and logisticians support state-of-the-art maintenance, repair and overhaul of the military’s most advanced aircraft platforms, often in buildings that date back to the depot’s World War II beginnings.

A small team of mechanics at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) keeps the production lines rolling at the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility. FRCE’s Ground Support Branch repairs and maintains the vital ground support equipment used to move aircraft, transport parts, test systems and perform other critical functions that support aircraft production efforts at the depot.

A first for the Navy! On June 20, 2023 Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) pilot, CDR Matthew Ostrye, was dispatched to Fallon, Nevada in order to ferry an E2D aircraft assigned to VAW-113 to Naval Air Station North Island. Ferrying of aircraft in order to enact repairs is a normal occurrence for FRCSW’s personnel, but this time was different. The E2 was to be flown without a rotodome, the large circular “top” to the aircraft.

Training developed and conducted at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has made a real-world impact on flight line readiness. The training provides the Marine Corps with the capabilities to bolster the number of mission-capable AV-8B Harriers while ensuring aircraft safety, and is now being applied to next-generation aircraft including the F-35 Lightning II.

The U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon is a multi-mission, militarized 737 behemoth. It conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance, long-range anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, search and rescue and intelligence missions.

Clearly, the P-8A and the aircrew who fly it play a vital role in supporting the Navy’s mission.

Fleet Readiness Center East’s (FRCE) UH-1N Huey production line is swapping out diesel-powered ground power units (GPU) for a sustainable alternative with the recent purchase of battery-powered GPUs, becoming the first adapter of this technology within the Naval Aviation community.

According to Allen Broadway, FRCE’s UH-1N branch head, the battery-powered GPUs minimize energy consumption, increase efficiency and enhance workplace safety.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has reached another milestone toward the drawing down of its AV-8B Harrier program, with the completion of its last TAV-8B trainer aircraft. The two-seater trainer was delivered May 11 to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223, located at Cherry Point.

The Marine Corps is moving to replace the Harrier with the short takeoff-vertical landing F-35B Lightning II by 2027, which means FRCE’s AV-8 program will soon transition to supporting other platforms.

Innovation, connection and speeding solutions to the warfighter were on the agenda as the Eastern North Carolina (ENC) Tech Bridge at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) hosted a site visit by the Naval X Director May 16.

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) welcomed leaders from Marine Depot Maintenance Command (MDMC) May 16-17 as the two organizations compared operations, discussed common challenges and shared best practices, with the common goal of improving support of the nation’s warfighters.