Courtesy Photo | Col. Shane Henderson, Military Deputy Director at the F-35 Hybrid Product Support...... read more read more
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CRYSTAL CITY, VA. (NOV 30, 2021) – The F-35 Enterprise reached a program milestone with the selection of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as the site for the F-35 Joint Program Office's (F-35 JPO) Hybrid Product Support Integrator (HPSI) organization in May 2019.
HPSI is the F-35 JPO’s sustainment execution arm, composed of multi-national government and industry personnel. The team provides 24/7 support for the F-35 global fleet, including U.S. service, international partner, and foreign military sales aircraft. Additionally, the F-35 HPSI supports more than 700 fielded F-35s and 29 site activations while preparing for future force expansion. The organization comprises six functional areas focused on warfighter readiness requirements: logistics capability delivery, sustainment supply, maintenance modifications, support equipment, business operations, and global fleet operations.
U.S. Air Force Col. Shane Henderson is the new Military Deputy Director at HPSI. He grew up with a budding desire to join the Air Force as he watched the airplanes flying above Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Now an Air Force leader with the background to drive success for the program and the warfighter, his aircraft maintenance and acquisition knowledge grew exponentially throughout his 27-year career.
“I’ve been on the flight line with F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s, and was the 57th Maintenance Group Commander at Nellis Air Force Base,” said Henderson. “The acquisition community always interested me in how we field aircraft and bring on new technologies.”
He diversified his experience with his acceptance to the Acquisitions and Logistics Experience Exchange Tour (ALEET), a program in which acquisition officers switch positions with maintenance officers to learn more about their fellow Airman’s duties. He worked in the acquisition field for three years with the A-10 Systems Program Office at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, eventually becoming a program manager. Next, while working on the A-10 Precision Engagement Program, then-Capt. Henderson played a vital role in the program's stand-up. He described the process as being “built by pilots and maintainers in the field together, because we relied on the input of those doing the job.”
“This was the most influential assignment in my career. I was able to tie all the pieces together. The experience of maintainers on the flight line, how the program office managed acquisitions, and how aircraft modifications were engineered back to the maintainer turning wrenches on the flight line,” said Henderson.
Airmen on the flight line need the right tools and parts available to keep aircraft safe and reliable. “It made me realize that if you have holes in your sustainment strategy, and spares are lacking, it causes mass chaos on the flight line,” he said.
At HPSI, Henderson’s focus is on overcoming those initial sustainment challenges with the new F-35 fleet. In addition, he wants to "pay back the Air Force" by bringing his knowledge with acquisition management and flight line maintenance experience to the organization.
“I thought I could best support the F-35's sustainment strategy and bring ideas to the table that perhaps were not looked at before," he said. "I want to bring that F-35 flight line ground truth to the JPO to be able to get those lessons learned and build a better future."
The Air Force-led HPSI works closely with the Navy, Marine Corps, industry, and international partners. "We formed this trust that is getting better every day with our HPSI partners. We have people from each area available to work through improvements and challenges in the shortest time possible,” explained Henderson.
"With Air Force Materiel Command headquarters at Wright Patterson, it made sense to host the HPSI here,” Henderson continued. “It simplifies cross-talk with other aircraft system program offices as well as acquisition and sustainment experts within the (U.S. Air Force) Life Cycle Management Center. Furthermore, the opportunity to work alongside the USAF F-35 Fleet Management Office at Wright-Patt provides teaming opportunities," he added. "It will reduce time and boost affordability because using fewer resources means the F-35 is maintained and ready to complete its mission for less."
Henderson sees the HPSI diverse workforce as a huge success. "It is a melting pot of experienced professionals with the right mix of aircraft sustainment and logistics experience. The diverse ideas from the group keep mission execution at the forefront of how we deliver needs into the field. Additionally, the combination of government, international, and industry professionals working together ensure HPSI has a performance-based focus on F-35 fleet users," Henderson said.
He emphasized that communication is critical at HPSI to best support the fleet. Henderson thinks that feedback should be collected from maintenance crews, pilots, and engineers on the ground. This strategy helps execute the correct and most efficient way to get requirements fulfilled, save time, and decrease costs.
HPSI's global fleet operations is an example of how establishing good communications benefits the field. It is the first entity reached when there is a field request before they coordinate with the F-35 JPO’s program management offices to find a solution.
The HPSI also focuses on direct support to F-35 operational deployments around the globe.
"The HPSI Operations Center recently supported (Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211’s) retrograde following a joint operation aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth ([Ro8]),” said Henderson. “Their cargo needed to be shipped back to the U.S. from Guam, so our ops center worked with our sustainment supply team, which then worked with the Defense Logistics Agency and the U.S. Transportation Command to get it done," he added.
Another cost reduction initiative will be the Supply Performance-Based Logistics effort. Henderson explained that effort will improve accountability within the supply chain. It incentivizes industry to reduce repair demands and keep equipment on wing longer.
“The field naturally identifies where supply chain and/or reliability problems exist,” Henderson explained. “Then our industry partner is incentivized to solve it. This multiple-year contract enables more industry investment and provides long-term cost savings."
As he gets familiar with his post at HPSI, Henderson has specific advice to newcomers at the JPO.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape a weapons system that will be the cornerstone of our fighting force for decades to come,” he said. “The JPO can be confusing with the complicated work done here. Still, bringing life experience, education, or a fresh perspective can benefit the Program. I've seen that our executive leadership will listen to new ideas. Will they all be executed? Maybe not, but you are answering the ‘What if?'"
Henderson’s goal as deputy director is to gain organizational trust of the Airmen responsible for providing safe and reliable F-35s to their pilots.
“I want them to know that if they have a problem, they can trust the JPO team to get them an answer,” he said. “The warfighter will judge you on actions, not intentions. Translating intentions to actions is huge.”
| Date Taken: | 11.30.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2021 15:15 |
| Story ID: | 410142 |
| Location: | CRYSTAL CITY, VIRGINIA, US |
| Hometown: | BELLBROOK, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 1,727 |
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