By Janina Lamoglia 

FRCSW Public Affairs Office 

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) recently celebrated the exceptional leadership of Steven Dill, an engineering supervisor at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), by honoring him with the esteemed NAVAIR Supervisor of the Year award. Dill's remarkable leadership style has not only elevated the standards at FRCSW but also set a benchmark for leadership within the US Navy and Marine Corps.

In the realm of naval aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul, a transformative technology is taking flight. At the heart of this revolution is Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), where a team of dedicated engineers is pioneering the use of cold spray technology. This innovative approach is not only enhancing the repair capability for aging aircraft but also paving the way for substantial cost savings, an increase in readiness, and environmental benefits.

By Janina Lamoglia 

FRCSW Public Affairs Office 

Whether it is due to its all-weather versatility and reliability, or its run with the renowned flight demonstration team, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the F/A-18 Hornet has been a combat-proven platform for the Navy and Marine Corps for many years.

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.

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.

Since the 1950s, the naval aviation safety program has been enhancing the safety of aviation officers through risk assessment, investigation, and reporting of hazardous events. The Aviation Safety Program at Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) takes these safety tenants to heart. The command knows just how important each employee is at every level of the operation and makes every effort to ensure their ongoing safety.

Year after year, Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) proves that the command is the best maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in the Department of Defense (DoD). FRCSW provides the men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps with the lethal aviation assets necessary to fight and win. In FY22, FRCSW delivered 35 F/A-18, 66 MH-60, 18 V-22, 17 H-1, 6 CH-53, 5 E-2D and 4C-2A aircraft, as well as more than 25,000 aircraft components.

The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Michael Gilday, recently rolled out an initiative dubbed Get Real Get Better (GRGB). GRGB is a call to action designed to enact real, necessary culture change in order to reach the command’s potential and ensure the Navy is effective during this era of strategic competition. Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) leadership believes that the best way to accomplish this is to engage teammates in the process and get ideas from the people performing the necessary work.