SEATTLE, Wash. - For more than 24 years, components of the F-22 Raptor have been manufactured at the Boeing Seattle plant. Production of those components came to completion earlier this year, but work for Defense Contract Management Agency personnel will continue into the future.

Since 1986, DMCA has overseen the production of the F-22 aft fuselage and wing sets, as well as monitored the integration and testing of the advanced avionics systems and the pilot and maintenance training systems. Now that production has ended on the fuselage and wings, the focus has shifted to monitoring the close-out process.

“Boeing has torn-down almost the entire production line and started cleaning up, classifying tooling, loading containers and getting equipment ready to ship,” said Air Force Capt. Brian Walburn, DCMA F-22 supporting program integrator. “Now our big focus here is the harvesting, dispositioning, packing and long-term storage of the government tooling.”

Walburn said this process is very important. “The bottom line is that if the government ever had a use for this equipment in the future, it is imperative this process is done correctly. Ultimately, it goes beyond making sure all the tooling to the F-22 is packed up.”

“The government should be able to easily identify the appropriate containers, ship them where they need to go and start production again quickly,” he added.

All the government tooling, whether located at the Seattle plant or a subcontractor, will be packed up and sent to an Army depot for long-term storage.

Advanced Avionics

The contract administration and software quality assurance responsibilities for the F-22 Raptor Operational Flight Program are delegated to the DCMA Boeing Seattle office. Overseeing the delegation is Bill Coates, DCMA software quality assurance specialist.

Coates ensures the integrity of the software that enables the F-22 to perform as required. This involves providing oversight to the Integration and Certification Testing of the Operational Flight Program and making sure necessary upgrades are completed per contractual guidelines.

“My role includes participating in daily contractor management meetings, reviewing process data and products to ensure contractors’ compliance to the Software Development Plan and other contractual requirements,” said Coates. “I perform software quality assurance activities that may include participating in pre-test and post-test meetings, product reviews and ensuring compliance to testing requirements is being met.”

Managing priorities and providing the proper amount of oversight to the program can be challenging, said Coates. Having a supportive team makes the job easier.

“I am fortunate to work with some great people, both government and contractor, who are committed to the success of the program and ensuring the warfighters have the latest and greatest technology available for the defense of our nation,” said Coates. “Working with people like this makes every day a highlight.”

“However,” Coates continued, “if one event was a memorable moment, it was when an F-22 Raptor came to Seattle. Seeing it fly and knowing I have a small part in supporting the program and making it successful was definitely a highlight.”

Connected Media