AMDO Association Input - 30 May 2009

“AMDO CORE VALUES”

The topic of “AMDO Core Values” came up in discussions with Captain Mike Kelly a couple of months ago. From Mike Kelly’s perspective MRO (Manufacturing, Repair & Overhaul) represents the foundational underpinnings of our Community. And, without equivocation I certainly agree with that opinion. Our Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO) Community has certainly grown during my time in the Navy thanks to our Flag & Captain predecessors who had the vision to ensure we were represented in positions where we could influence Naval Aviation readiness across the acquisition life cycle. Our billet base is now represented in fleet O, I, and D level slots, Type Commander, SYSCOM Program Offices, as well as key OPNAV positions. All of these positions are critical and benefit from our core familiarity with MRO processes within the Naval Aviation environment. And, I would add that our afloat tours, as well as our SYSCOM tours, provide us with great understanding of MRO in the Surface/Subsurface Navy.

Personally I have benefited from my knowledge of our “Naval” MRO business processes in the diverse job assignments that the Navy has afforded me to date. From my interactions in Joint Maintenance endeavors with the Army, Air Force, Marine (Ground), and U.S. Coast Guard to my current assignment here at SPAWAR, my roots and understanding of Naval Aviation Maintenance policy and procedures have enabled me to proactively pursue business process improvements in many venues. This has most certainly been true while I have been at the helm here at SPAWAR. How? Here are some representative initiatives that have been instituted while I have been here:

Ø Established Readiness/Sustainment Officer Leads for every Strike Group/ESG
Ø Created an ITRR (Information Technology Readiness Review) process
Ø Created afloat Network Baseline Assessments for 2 Strike Groups
Ø Instituted a ‘digitized logbook’ for Network Configurations & emergency restoral of services
Ø Designated NAVICP Weapon System Managers (which did not exist)
Ø Generated Reliability and Ao metrics (which did not exist)

The list goes on and on in the ‘current readiness’ domain, but the message is certainly clear. A thorough understanding and familiarity with Naval Aviation MRO best business practices will serve all AMDOs well as they are assigned across the continuum of AMDO and other Navy billets. When I contrast the training that we receive within the AMDO community with other Navy communities it is clear that we are blessed with having had great leaders in our community as well as documented processes as epitomized within our NAMP and NATOPS. Hence, Mike Kelly’s assertion that MRO is at the core of our AMDO Community certainly rings true with me, and I would offer all past and present AMDOs the opportunity to comment: http://topamdo.blogspot.com/ is my attempt at ‘blogging’ for our Community. So, if you are so inclined, visit and let me know what your comments or questions are.

On a different topic, I had the opportunity to participate in the AVFOTS (Aviation Flag Officer Training Session) on 5/6 May 2009 in Pensacola Florida. This is an annual forum for Aviation Flag communications with the following purpose:
• Inform Aviation Flags regarding current and future challenges
• Solicit feedback and comment from the Aviation Flag community
• Baseline Aviation Flags on current operations, programs and community policy
• Provide exposure to leaders and experts in fields relating to Naval Aviation

I attend this forum every year as it keeps those of us in acquisition baselined across the continuum of Naval Aviation. I did not intend to go into details but this year’s session clearly illustrated that the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) is alive and active. The agenda that was covered follows:


EVENT
Speaker
0700-0800
Registration & Breakfast (Joint)

0800-0815
Admin / Opening

0815-0900
Navy Global Ops / International Engagement
RADM Lemmons
0900-0945
Global Threat
NSAWC
0945-1000
Break

1000-1045
Carrier Ops
CNA
1050-1200
Leadership under Stress (Joint)
Gene Kranz
1200-1315
Working Lunch -- Diversity
CNAFR
1315-1345
Total Force
CNATRA
1345-1445
Community Management
PERS-43
1445-1500
Break

1500-1545
NAVPLAN 2030
N88
1545-1630
POM-10 / PR-11
N88
1800-2100
Social (Cubi Bar) / Gray Owl




EVENT
Speaker
0600-0650
Breakfast

0700-0800
CNO (VTC)
CNO
0800-0900
“Rule Number Two” (Joint)
Heidi Kraft
0900-0915
Break

0915-1000
QDR
QDR
1000-1100
NAVCENT Perspective
C5F
1100-1130
Current Readiness
CNAL
1130-1215
Lunch

1215-1245
Managing Readiness
CPRG
1245-1315
FHP Risk & Mitigations
CNAF
1315-1330
Break

1330-1500
CNAF Topics, Discussion and Wrap - Up
CNAF


I highlight my attendance at this session only to reinforce that you should be proud of your Naval Aviation Community that continues to ensure that they are a relevant and indispensible warfighting component within our Great Navy. The topics were germane and it is clear that the ‘AIR BOSS’, VADM Tom Kilcline, is leading Naval Aviation into the Future! Equities associated with Naval Aviation Maintenance and Readiness are clearly understood, appreciated, and being protected! Again, if there are any questions in this area would be more than willing to discuss in the future.
As always, Marty Reagan has most certainly contributed to the health of our Community and I always appreciate the opportunity to provide some inputs to our AMDO Association members. Stay Healthy and Safe!