In 2006, the Navy implemented its Enterprise framework to facilitate change management and forge a path to an affordable future while continuing to deploy combat-ready Navy and Marine Forces supporting Joint War fighting for today and tomorrow. As part of this continued evolution, in May 2007, Adm. Paul E. Sullivan, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, approved a restructuring of the NAVSEA Warfare Centers (NSWC and Naval Undersea Warfare Center) to provide better alignment with the naval enterprises by establishing several senior executives as his warfare center executives aligned to support each of the Navy’s enterprises, the major system command program executive offices, and other agency customers.

NSWC Indian Head Division’s J. Jerry LaCamera, deputy division technical director, was tasked to stand up the organization and act as one of five warfare center enterprise executives. (Chart 1 provides a view of the NAVSEA warfare center alignment, as of May 1, 2007.)

The WCE-AS has national strategic oversight responsibility for Warfare Center programs that are funded by the Program Executive Officers (PEOs) Carriers (CV); Joint Strike Fighter (JSF); Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs (A); Tactical Air Programs (T); and Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (W & U); and other major customers. This involves national strategic responsibility for Warfare Center workload pertaining to aircraft carriers, air weapons, weapon systems and components, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems, and air and Undersea Warfare (USW) ranges.

As the Warfare Center Enterprise Executive, LaCamera’s major role will be to nationally manage across the divisions, to provide options and technical solutions for the assigned PEOs and major customers, including managing the technical capabilities and investments of the executing divisions, to ensure adequate capability and capacity necessary to meet the demands. The role of WCEE is to also serve as the senior point of contact for the assigned PEOs and major customers.

The organization is now almost fully staffed: Chris Fawls is the senior technical lead for NAVAIR Missiles, Weapons, Carriers and support programs. Kaye Carter is the executive assistant; Aida Torres is the strategic planner and operations manager, Bonnie Barger-Tyo is business and workload manager, and Rob Walker is senior technical lead for Electronic Warfare, IR⁄EO Sensors, Unmanned Air Vehicles, Air Force and Army Air programs. The construct of the organization involves major support from assigned Customer Advocate Division Leads and other division customer advocates, in the areas of responsibility (see Chart 2, WCE-AS Construct).

Thus far, the Enterprise has gone through a series of efforts to provide Strategic direction to the sites, business planning and investment guidance and assessments of technical health. Currently, the WCE is also in the process of creating its Web site.

You’ll be seeing more to come through other communications on major focus areas and long range goals for the organization. In addition, we will be looking to promote a greater understanding of the Warfare Center Enterprise - Aviation Systems framework, as it relates to the Navy, and more specifically, to the Naval Aviation Enterprise. Please contact Aida Torres with any questions⁄concerns⁄comments at 301-744-4875.