Technical Services - Winter 2009 - (Page 10)

lcoe Life CyCLe optimization and engineering Navy lauds Global Hawk for technical excellence and ongoing program improvements by Gemma Loochkartt T he Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration (GHMD) team was named VX-20 Test Team of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2008 by the U.S. Navy at a ceremony October 20 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The accoacco lade results from the team’s impressive string of achievements during the first half of the year. problems with the communications system, integrating the automatic information system into the aircraft, conducting tests with the ocean surveillance initiative, and developing tactics and doctrine for unmanned patrol systems. In addition, the team supported operational activities including the Southeastern Anti-Submarine Warfare Initiative 08-2, the USS Iwo Jima group sail, and the Commander Carrier Strike Group 8. According to Terry Barefoot, GHMD program manager for Northrop Grumman, the team’s recent successes culminated in the Trident Warrior exercise in June when the team successfully flew 113.6 hours over a five-week period, including a grueling 25.5-hour mission off the coast of California and Hawaii from a ground station at NAS Patuxent River. During the exercise, the team readily answered a fire surveillance call to support U.S. Northern Command, displaying the system’s flexibility and persistence by providing critically needed imagery to firefighters in Northern California. TS “Your success this year was the result of the entire team’s willingness to go above and beyond all expectations,” said Capt. Bob Dishman, program manager of Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). “Your efforts have been recognized and lauded not only within NAVAIR, but throughout the Department of Defense, paving the way for future unmanned areial systems operations in support of the warfighter – congratulations on a job well done!” 1 In a citation signed by M. D. Sweet, the Navy’s chief test engineer of Integrated Systems Evaluation, Experimentation and Test, and J. S. Lemmon, commander of the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 also known as VX-20, the GHMD team was praised for their “diligence, dedication and outstanding technical knowledge that established operating procedures for Navy high-altitude UAS and the ability to solve administrative and technical issues that had limited the employment of the GHMD aircraft in national airspace.” The team’s accomplishments included more than 1,000 hours of flight operations over an 18-month period, troubleshooting A ground flight maintenance crew readies a Global Hawk for flight. Members of the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration team celebrate their recent award from the U.S. Navy as VX-20 Test Team of the Quarter at a ceremony Oct. 20 in NAS Patuxent River, Md. 10 Technical Services Magazine • Winter 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Technical Services - Winter 2009

Technical Services - Winter 2009 Contents President's Column New Business Growth TS Implements Improvements to USPS Equipment Security Services Award in Southwest Asia; TS Awarded Qatar Contract Livermore Operations Provide Major Support to NSTec NSROC Team Achieves Technical Excellence NG Board Visits Nevada Test Site Fort Irwin Gains Efficiencies Global Hawk Award Lake Charles Reaches Significant Milestone TS Continues Expanding Hunter UAV Support Operations Warner Robins Uses Technology to Increase Business U.K. AWACS Accident Data Recording Systems Upgrade TS Continues to Support Injured Warfighters TS Transforms Army Training; Secures Key DHS Contract TS Trainers Deliver New Military Intelligence Instruction I'm In! TS Supports Joint Training Media Operations; BCTC Trainers Prepare for Combat Ethics OpenLine Results and Poster Contest Winners; Safe Harbor Annual Recertification TS Optimizes Operations Through ISO 9001:2000 Certification

Technical Services - Winter 2009

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