Osprey visit reinforces mission, energizes Southeast team

Osprey visit reinforces mission, energizes Southeast team

By DCMA Southeast

Defense Contract Management Agency Southeast team members and employees at Rockmart Fuel Containment experienced the operational impact of their work Sept. 18. During the event, the Marine Corps, the V-22 Joint Program Office, and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 brought an Osprey to the Rockmart, Georgia, facility.

DCMA Southeast employees who attended the event included Zachary Klein, supervisory industrial specialist; Tavia Lonsway, lead industrial specialist; Brian Karnes, industrial engineer; Bill Earnshaw, industrial specialist; Nahom Seyum, lead quality assurance specialist; Vernon Lewis, lead quality assurance specialist; and Marvin Escutia, quality assurance specialist.

The contractor produces self-sealing tactical fuel-bladder systems used on several Department of War aircraft and weapons systems. The facility manufactures components that help support aircraft survivability and mission readiness.

DCMA Southeast personnel observed the Osprey's arrival, static display and departure. The event also allowed the contractor's employees, who manufacture fuel-cell components, to see the aircraft and better understand the operational purpose of their work.

"Having the V-22 Osprey land in front of the workforce that manufactures its fuel bladders creates a strong sense of pride and shows how their work supports the warfighter," said Earnshaw.

The V-22 combines the vertical takeoff and landing capability of a helicopter with the speed and range characteristics of a fixed-wing aircraft. Its mission supports operations in contested environments where reliable aircraft systems are essential to crew safety and mission success.

For DCMA Southeast representatives, the event connected contract requirements and manufacturing oversight directly to the products made in Rockmart.

"On today's wartime footing, speed, precision and quality are not just performance targets, they are operational imperatives," said Army Col. Desiree Dirige, DCMA Southeast commander. "As the independent eyes and ears for the Department of War, our work directly impacts the safety and effectiveness of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and guardians doing their mission."

According to Dirige, the self-sealing fuel cells are manufactured through a detailed, labor-intensive process requiring precise assembly and bonding of multiple material layers. Product quality and process discipline are critical because the fuel cells are designed to support aircraft survivability when operating in demanding conditions.

DCMA's acquisition professionals provide contract administration, and the quality assurance personnel and industrial specialists provide manufacturing oversight at the facility. The DCMA team members work near or on the production floor to assess manufacturing capability, production processes, quality, capacity, supply-chain health and risk-management practices.

"Seeing the aircraft here connects the contract requirements we oversee on the factory floor to the safety, survivability, and readiness of the men and women serving on the front lines," said Lonsway.

The V-22 visit gave the DCMA workforce a tangible connection to the mission their work supports, which is providing reliable and quality products that help enable the safety, readiness and effectiveness of our country's armed forces.

Related Stories