NAVAIR team members receive recognition for improved affordability work

Published July 24, 2014
By Elyse Setherman
Naval Air Systems Command Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Capt. James Donnelly, program manager for the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Program Office (PMA-251), presented the prestigious Affordability Championship Award and Letters of Appreciation to several NAVAIR members of the Advanced Arresting Gear Thermal Management Fluid Working Group (AAG) July 23, 2014, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Lakehurst, N.J.

"Every once and a while the next thing is something really big," said Donnelly during the presentation. "The fluid in the water twister was one of those big things. He commended the team members on their collaborative efforts."

The AAG Thermal Management Fluid Working Group was stood up as a cross-organizational team consisting of representatives from the Research and Engineering Office (AIR 4.0), PMA-251, the Future Aircraft Program Carrier Office (PMS-378) and the Naval Systems Engineering Directorate (SEA 05) to identify an acceptable fluid substitute that met the thermal management requirements of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) AAG water twister.

The group identified NALCOOL 2000 as a solution due to its unique physical and chemical properties. As a result of the team's efforts, the program was able to avoid costly shipboard impacts in excess of $1M.

NAVAIR team members Sean Brennan, Sara Federico, Joseph Kirk and Scott Stapleton received Letters of Appreciation written by Capt. Chris Meyer, CVN 78 program manager, during Wednesday's award presentation.

Following the presentation of the letters, Kevin Larkins, an Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment systems engineer and the lead engineer for the AAG Water Twister Integrated Product Team, was presented with the ACA, an award established in 2012 by Rear Adm. T.J. Moore, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers, to recognize significant contributions to improving affordability for the Program Executive Office Carrier product lines.

"I am proud that I had the privilege to facilitate coordination amongst our team members to listen to alternatives and ultimately find a solution that met all needs," said Larkins.