Aerospace engineer lands warm homecoming

Photo By Thomas Perry | Toby Nelson, a Defense Contract Management Agency Lockheed Martin Fort Worth aerospace engineer, now works on the F-35 Lightning II program after seven years with Naval Air Systems Command.  

FORT WORTH, TX, UNITED STATES

08.24.2015

Story by Thomas Perry 

Defense Contract Management Agency

FORT WORTH, Texas - “It gets way too cold up there.” Three years ago, Texas native Toby Nelson decided to end his seven-year relationship with rural Maryland. With thoughts of family, friends, and in this case, warmth in mind, he jumped at the chance to return home.

In 2012, Defense Contract Management Agency Lockheed Martin Fort Worth was looking for an aerospace engineer — Nelson applied, interviewed and accepted. It was a decision that benefited the agency, the warfighter and Nelson himself.

“I love it here,” he said. “I am a native Texan so of course I love Texas, but I also enjoy the work here. Working on the F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter) is fulfilling professionally. I like how I get to see the hardware and aircraft, and walk the production line. I get to interact with contractors from a wide array of disciplines.”

After graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, Nelson joined Naval Air Systems Command at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. During the next seven years, he sharpened his skills and expanded his own array of disciplines. The 31-year-old’s professional toolbox was ready and waiting to contribute to the Department of Defense’s largest weapon procurement program ever, and when Fort Worth called, he answered.

“Mr. Nelson plays a very significant role within our office in accomplishing our mission,” said Sam Saputra, an agency supervisory general engineer and Nelson’s supervisor here. “His review of F-35 program nonconforming material is ensuring the highest quality and safest repairs are performed on the F-35 aircraft, which is greatly benefiting the warfighter. He is a perfect example of what an employee should be like and what every organization would like to have.”

Earlier this fiscal year, Nelson was named Fort Worth Employee of the Quarter in part because he and his team consistently exceeded performance expectations.

“We review the contractor’s quality assurance reports for ‘use as is’ and ‘repair’ dispositions,” said Nelson. “But we don’t just review the nonconformances, we try to look at the root causes of the problem and try to help the contractor.” He also noted that all DoD contractors within the agency’s area of responsibility are likewise required to open their manufacturing reporting and processes to review.

One of the reasons he enjoys his position is the opportunity to delve into these reports. While they are for official use only and are standard across the international manufacturing arena, whether within the civilian and military aviation industry or elsewhere, they often present a complex puzzle yearning to be solved, Nelson said. “I enjoy the job because sometimes there might be an issue that I’ll just kind of look at and think ‘that’s kind of interesting.’ You dig down and you find there is a lot more there than you might think just from that one write up.”

Nelson is quick to identify his positive relationships with agency team members and Lockheed Martin personnel as critical components of his daily mission success.

“We get the daily quality assurance reports, and then based on the reports, we can identify areas we haven’t seen before,” said Nelson. “We speak with engineers from the contractor, talk to the mechanics on the floor and work with our quality assurance representatives. We all communicate with each other on a daily basis.”

Saputra praised Nelson’s communication skills, drive and willingness to accept additional projects when it contributes to overall command success.

“He has a great attitude and always carries himself in a professional manner,” said Saputra, a Texas native himself. “He doesn’t mind volunteering for special tasks and taking on tasks that he might not have a lot of experience with just for the opportunity to learn something new and challenging. We are very fortunate to have him in our group.”

Last year, Nelson, who primarily works on the F-35’s wing section, was able to expand his professional network into the program’s supply chain. DCMA Lockheed Martin Marietta manages the F-35’s center wing section component, and Nelson was provided an opportunity to meet with his agency counterparts there.

“I was able to see the facilities and that was very useful because it opened up communication between us,” said Nelson. “Sometimes we will see something here and identify an issue with non-conformance and say ‘oh, that is a Marietta issue.’ Now I can shoot an email or pick up the phone to interact with our Marietta team members. That line of communication is incredibly valuable. DCMA is such a large organization, just knowing who the right person to contact within a contract management office can be a challenge.”

Nelson serves as one of those team members at Fort Worth. He is excited about staying with the agency and exploring long-term career advancement opportunities. In short, he is happy to be home.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website, the typical August high temperature here is 96 degrees. Somewhere in Texas there is an engineer frantically searching the wanted ads for Northeast openings — Nelson isn’t one of them.

• Date Taken: 08.24.2015
• Date Posted: 08.24.2015 08:26
• Story ID: 174024
• Location: FORT WORTH, TX, US