Director highlights DCMA Italy’s expanding role

Director highlights DCMA Italy's expanding role

By Elizabeth Szoke DCMA Public Affairs Office

Navy Vice Adm. Stephen Tedford, Defense Contract Management Agency director, visited DCMA Italy recently to meet with employees, strengthen relationships with international partners and gain a firsthand look at the agency's support to the F-35 program. 

Tedford met with leaders from the Italian Ministry of Defence, Lockheed Martin, Leonardo, a global industrial group that builds technological capabilities in aerospace, defense and security, and the U.S. Department of State, while also recognizing the work of the DCMA Italy team. Discussions focused on F-35 quality assurance, international collaboration and expanding maintenance capabilities that support coalition partners across Europe.

"The strength of the F-35 enterprise comes from the people and partnerships behind it," Tedford said. "Visiting our teams overseas and engaging directly with our government and industry partners reinforces our shared commitment to quality, readiness and mission success."

DCMA Italy provides contract management support for defense programs executed in Italy, working closely with U.S. military organizations, foreign governments, and industry partners to ensure defense systems meet quality, cost, and schedule requirements.

Leadership discussed the importance of improving information sharing among F-35 production and maintenance sites in the U.S., Italy and Japan to better anticipate future maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade requirements. Tedford also met with Milan Consul General Douglass Benning to discuss DCMA Italy's International Cooperative Administrative Support Services agreement with the U.S. Department of State, which supports the agency's overseas mission.

"It was also a particular honor to welcome Consul General Benning and Vice Adm. Tedford, whose presence further underscored the strategic importance of Cameri and the enduring strength of the partnership between our two nations," said Italian Ministry of Defence Navy Capt. Sigfrido Chiandussi, the Italian F-35 program manager.

The discussions also centered on the delegation of F-35 quality assurance responsibilities to the Italian Ministry of Defence and the continued partnership among government and industry organizations supporting aircraft production and sustainment.

"Hosting the different leaderships provided an opportunity to demonstrate the critical work our team performs every day alongside our Italian government and industry partners," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Shepherd, DCMA Italy commander. "Events like this reinforce the importance of collaboration and ensure we're aligned as the F-35 enterprise continues to grow."

Italy continues to play an expanding role in the global F-35 program. Since 2013, the Final Assembly and Checkout Facility at Cameri has delivered 67 aircraft while the site's wings assembly operation has produced more than 325 wing sets. The facility also supports maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade operations for multiple European partner nations.

"It was great to host the director's first international visit where he engaged with acquisition professionals about the mission," said Navy Capt. Bari Jones, DCMA International commander. "I'm proud our team had the opportunity to demonstrate their ongoing collaborative efforts with our partners to ensure the delivery of critical defense systems."

Tedford's visit supported an agency effort to improve warfighter capabilities by influencing timely delivery of quality and affordable products. 

"Every face-to-face engagement we conduct reinforces the partnerships that help deliver advanced defense capabilities to the joint force and allied nations," Tedford said. "I'm proud of the DCMA Italy team's expertise, professionalism and commitment to supporting the warfighter, along with confidence the team will continue delivering exceptional results alongside its international partners."

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