The Closing of the Avondale Shipyard: More than just a bottom-line decision…

08/23/2011
By Vince Martinez 08/23/2011 - As the shipbuilding industry prepares for an uncertain future, the looming closure of the Avondale Shipyard near New Orleans expected sometime in 2013 is a clear reminder of the impacts of the downturned economy and a future of fiscal uncertainty. Such corporate decisions are the…

Shaping an Amphibious Warfare Enterprise

08/14/2011
08/14/2011 by Vince Martinez For years, the amphibious arm of the Navy has struggled to gain the notoriety, the advocates and the budget that the carrier side of the Navy has been able to garner.  Despite this, and through the operational ingenuity of the Sailors and Marines who serve in…

F-35 and Cost Effective Performance

07/31/2011
The Missing Element from the “Sustainment” Debate By Dr. Robbin Laird 08/01/2011 - In the wake of the headlines about the trillion-dollar airplane, F-35 sustainment costs have been tossed into the political fray.  According to a single line in an unreleased SAR report, the F-35 fleet is projected to cost…

The F-35 Maintenance Approach

07/31/2011
The Impact of A New Upgrading and Sustainment Approach An Interview with Scott Ogden 08/01/2011 - A key element in understanding the Cultural Revolution associated with the 5th generation aircraft is the dramatic change in how maintenance and sustainment can be done fleet wide and in terms of global sustainment. …

Moving from the F-16 to the F-35A: Reducing the Complexity of the Flight Line

07/25/2011
An Interview with Joel Malone F-35As at Edwards AFB June 2011 (Credit: Lockheed Martin) 07/25/2011 - The shift from the F-16 to the F-35A for the USAF will provide significant capability to improve operational performance and operational tempo.  In an interview with Joel Malone, the shift was discussed and analyzed.…

Shaping the F-35 Maintenance Approach

07/18/2011
The View from Pax River 07/18/2011 - In mid-June, the Second Line of Defense team visited Pax River and received overviews on various aspects of the test program.  One of those aspects was shaping the maintenance approach. [caption id="attachment_21442" align="alignleft" width="191" caption="Craig Paramore (Credit: SLD)"][/caption] During our visit to Pax…

From the bridge of the Bertholf

07/05/2011
07/05/2011 MONDAY, MAY 9, 2011 As one of the Coast Guard’s newest assets, the national security cutters bring operational capabilities the fleet needs for mission success. Compass has asked the wardroom of Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, the service’s first NSC, to share their unique perspective on how the fleet’s newest…