Technical Program: Wednesday, December 11
Posturing the Sustainment Enterprise to Be Ready @ the Speed of Relevance
8:00-9:10 a.m. │ Ballroom 100 A-C
Objective
Examine two defining moments in U.S. warfighting and sustainment history against the context of today’s National Defense Strategy to deliver and support ready systems at the speed of relevance. Today’s strategic security, as informed by historical precedent, offers tremendous opportunities to mature a responsive, relevant, and well-postured Department of Defense sustainment enterprise.
Abstract
The years 1941 and 1991 are important in that they illustrate very different kinds of warfare and provide relevant insights about ways to shore up and energize our sustainment enterprise. During the Battle of the Atlantic (1941), swarms of smart, small aircraft cycled on and off U.S. carriers to deliver the “sting” of national power. By 1991 U.S. military doctrine had shifted, with a focus on precision to get the better of mass. Substantial victories can be associated with this doctrinal shift, but are we agile and responsive enough to respond to today’s security threats?
The planes and pilots of 1941 have been replaced by swarms of software intensive, near-space drones held together by artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile, targeted additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities. Panelists will use lessons from the past to highlight present and future sustainment outcomes we must deliver and the qualities required to generate and mobilize a ready, agile, and relevant sustainment enterprise.
Moderator: Brigadier General Kyle Robinson, USAF, Commandant, The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University
Panelists:
- Rear Admiral Nathan Moore, USCG, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics, United States Coast Guard
- Lieutenant General Charles Chiarotti, USMC, Deputy Commandant, Headquarters United States Marine Corps
- Mr. Michael Manazir, Vice President, Navy Systems Defense, Space, & Security Group Government Operations, The Boeing Company
Ready Systems @ the Speed of Relevance —Managing the Defense Industrial Base as a Strategic Capability
9:25-10:35 a.m. │ Ballroom 100 A-C
Objective
Determine how well the nation’s Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is positioned to respond to National Defense Strategy requirements. Identify major DIB focus areas, key challenges, and strategic solutions for improving flexibility, readiness, and lethality.
Abstract
Myriad capabilities in both defense and industry sectors may not be fully integrated or optimized to generate satisfactory materiel availability. Today’s state of decision making, resourcing, and investment allocation across the DIB suggest major changes are necessary. Government and industry leaders will provide their perspectives on today’s “burning platform” and why it may be time for a fundamental transformation. Is the time right to redefine the DIB? How could the DIB be managed as a national asset? What initiatives are underway to foster a required paradigm shift?
Moderator: Brigadier General Christopher Hill, USAF, Commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex *presentation
Panelists:
- Mr. David Clifton, Executive Deputy, Marine Corps Logistics Command *presentation
- Kevin Kirkpatrick, Pratt & Whitney
- Mr. Jim Wrzeski, Director, Naval Shipyard Operations, Naval Sea Systems Command
- Dr. Sorin Lungu, Professor, Eisenhower School, National Defense University *presentation
- Mr. Chris Seymour, Vice President, Military Sustainment, Bell *presentation
Shining the Spotlight on the “Backshop” - Leveraging Component Repair to Increase Materiel Readiness
10:50 a.m.-12:00 p.m. │ Ballroom 100 A-C
Objective
Understand the contribution and criticality of component repair to readiness recovery so that we can focus the efforts of the sustainment community to improve the reliability and extend the serviceable lives of critical warfighting assets.
Abstract
As component repair in support of DoD’s major end items has become more important, it has also become more complex. Component repair has specialized, diversified, and differentiated to address critical and non-critical requirement “movers” and meet the demands of both standard and “over and above” work. Today, effective and efficient component repair requires many sustainment disciplines, including inventory management, forecasting, supply management, return and repair flows, workforce development, and sustaining engineering.
During this plenary session, sustainment leaders will highlight the importance of integrating component repair fully into the Department’s readiness recovery efforts. They will describe current improvement initiatives and discuss strategic issues that drive the capability and capacity of component repair to meet materiel readiness requirements. Issues examined will include economies of scale, availability, optimization of support equipment, spare parts forecasting and availability, and work package and bill of material accuracy.
Moderator: Mr. Kurt Wendelken, Assistant Commander for Supply Chain Technology and System Integration, Naval Supply Systems Command
Panelists:
- Brigadier General John Kubinec, USAF, Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex
- Mr. John Bumgarner, Assistant Director, US Government Accountability Office
- Mr. Patrick Esposito, Director of Production Management, Tobyhanna Army Depot *presentation
- Mr. Ken Merchant, Vice President, F-35 Global Sustainment, Lockheed Martin *presentation
Operational Sustainment Reviews —The Army’s Metrics-Driven Framework for Achieving Weapon System Availability Outcomes
2:00-4:00 p.m. │ Room 111 B-C
Objective
Highlight an ongoing initiative that is institutionalizing sustainment readiness recovery and a weapon system availability outcome focus into the DNA of the Army.
Abstract
The Army’s Operational Sustainment Reviews (OSRs) gauge sustainment performance by measuring the effectiveness of current weapon system support strategies against baseline values documented early in a system’s lifecycle. As past OSRs have highlighted, there is no “silver bullet” solution to the materiel readiness challenges of today. Panelists will focus on three key OSR facets: 1) structure and use of data-based decision making to achieve results, 2) the required level of stakeholder engagement, and 3) how other Services may leverage the OSR model in their sustainment readiness recovery efforts. Recent OSR lessons learned and outcomes will be shared and sister Services will provide reactions and insights as they describe similar efforts underway to improve materiel availability and readiness requirements. Finally, panelists will discuss how OSRs can be an instructive baseline as the Department refines its capabilities to understand the specific causes of availability loss and cost drivers at the enterprise level.
Moderator: Mr. Steven Karl, Director, Acquisition Logistics Policy and Programs, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition Policy and Logistics (HQDA ASA ALT) *presentation
Panelists:
- Mr. Stuart L. Paul, Deputy, Aviation Fleet Readiness Branch (OPNAV N832), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations *presentation
- Mr. Michael Perricane, Logistics Chief & Product Support Manager, Light Tactical Vehicles, Detroit Arsenal
- Mr. Mark Colley, Director, Combat Support and Combat Service Support, Readiness and Sustainment Directorate, TACOM (AMSTA-LCC)
- Mr. William Kobren, Director, Logistics & Sustainment Center, Defense Acquisition University (DAU) *presentation
- Mr. Joe Spruill, Bernard M. Baruch Industry Chair, National Defense University/Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy
Corrosion Control as a Readiness Enabler
2:00-4:00 p.m. │ Room 300 B-D
Objective
Explore corrosion-related maintenance processes and materials for materiel readiness improvement and reduced costs.
Abstract
Corrosion Maintenance costs the Department of Defense approximately $20B per year, and consumes up to 25% of every maintenance man-hour spent to keep our assets ready to perform their mission. Improving the corrosion performance of systems through advanced maintenance practices and materials has the potential to reduce costs and improve our readiness posture by reducing maintenance requirements, extending time between depot maintenance periods, and minimizing the demand for corrosion-related maintenance man-hours at operational, intermediate, and depot maintenance levels. This session will feature the results of several recent advances in corrosion-related maintenance process and show how they have benefited the readiness of the impacted systems.
Moderator: Mr. Robert Herron, Director, Corrosion Policy & Oversight, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Panelists:
- Mr. James Ruocco, Director, Air Systems Group, Naval Air Systems Command
- Mr. Edward Lemieux, Director, Center for Corrosion science & Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory
Take Three: The Good, the Bad, and a Little Bit of Ugly–A SecDef Maintenance Awards Tutorial
4:00-5:00 p.m. │ Room 111 A
Objective
Provide feedback directly from selection board members and engage in frank discussions regarding submissions for the annual Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards.
Abstract
Does creating a winning Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards nomination package seem elusive? Selection board members from last year’s competition will describe what they look for, what really stands out, and what is difficult. Examples of what to do and what not to do will be presented. Actual excerpts from previous nomination packages will be shared. Considerable time will be allotted for Q&A.