Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRC NW), at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was recently named one of two winners of the 2008 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award for medium category commands. 

A total of six awards are presented annually in three different categories for large, medium, and small commands across all military maintenance organizations. FRC NW was awarded in the medium category. 

FRC NW, formerly know as the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, is one of the Navy’s largest aviation maintenance repair activities on the West Coast, employing 984 Sailors, Marines, and Civilians.  The unit supports intermediate and depot level maintenance for EA-6B, P-3C, EP-3E, and H-60 aircraft components.

During 2007, FRC NW tested, diagnosed, inspected, repaired and fabricated over 8,300 unique aircraft and support equipment components.  They also repaired a total of 36,656 aircraft components, totaling 849,636 man-hours and completed 156,422 separate maintenance actions resulting in a remarkable 70.9 percent ready-for-issue (RFI) rate.

FRC NW has consistently delivered the benefits of FRC implementation using a proactive approach to advanced applications in AIRSpeed and Cost-Wise Readiness for the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE).

Last year, an aggressive repair capability effort produced $19.1M in savings in the first year of operation.  FRC NW’s savings contribution to the NAE surpassed Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers’ (COMFRC) $7.4 million FY-07 goal by more than $11.6 million, accounting for a full 37 percent of all savings generated by the 6 FRC area commands.

According to FRC NW’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Jim Parish, “The Sailors, Marines, and civilian employees worked extremely hard to make 2007 a highly successful year.  Without their 100 percent dedication and engagement, this would not have been possible.  They are most deserving of the recognition afforded by this prestigious award.”

The SECDEF Maintenance Award ceremony was during the DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Denver, Colo.