Photo By Michael A Furlano | Over the past year, the program reduced aircraft turnaround time (TAT) by an...... read more read more
Fleet Readiness Center Southwest's (FRCSW) H-53 Super Stallion program has established itself as the benchmark for depot level maintenance on this type/model/series aircraft, delivering record breaking turnaround times while ensuring the Marine Corps' only heavy lift helicopter remains ready to support the warfighter.
Over the past year, the program reduced aircraft turnaround time (TAT) by an impressive 45.42%, improving from 469 days to just 256. Those numbers represent more than production statistics; they translate directly into increased aircraft availability for the Fleet and greater combat readiness in support of the President’s National Defense Strategy.
The program's success has not gone unnoticed by its customers.
"You guys are killing it...one came in at 266 TAT and the next one at 264 TAT. I think that's a record!" said Bill Gearhart, MALS-16 H-53 Class Desk.
Following another early delivery, Gearhart added, "Outstanding would be an understatement... FIVE STARS gentlemen, hats off to you and your team at FRCSW!"
For a community as small as the H-53 fleet, every aircraft matters. Unlike larger aircraft inventories, every CH-53E unavailable for operations represents a significant reduction in heavy lift capability. Compounding that challenge, the aging Echo variant must remain in service while the CH-53K continues to enter the fleet, creating unique sustainment and supply challenges.
Rather than allowing those challenges to slow production, the H-53 team chose to solve them.
When replacement parts became unavailable, FRCSW partnered with engineering and manufacturing experts at the command to develop repair solutions and, in some cases, manufacture components that industry no longer produces. That innovative approach has become a hallmark of the program.
The turnaround began in June 2025 when command leadership assembled an experienced “Tiger Team” to eliminate a backlog of aircraft. The team's success restored momentum to the program and created the opportunity for leadership to focus on improving long term processes.
Read more about the Tiger Team's accomplishments here: https://usg01.safelinks.protection.office365.us/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvidshub.net%2Fnews%2F547044%2Ffrcsw-achieves-record-breaking-results-naval-aviation-readiness&data=05%7C02%7Cmichael.a.furlano.civ%40us.navy.mil%7C1da3088b3c6f40e6f7b908deef27e06a%7Ce3333e00c8774b87b6ad45e942de1750%7C0%7C0%7C639211151724541241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1W3qWK6VebiZFNetgr1QZ9r2KycrH44ExcTqFSxlRXA%3D&reserved=0
Building on that success, Program Manager John Santos and Deputy Program Manager Steve Thomas focused on a simple philosophy: trust the workforce.
They met with each work center and asked a straightforward question: "What do you need to be successful?"
Employees identified obstacles, and leadership worked to remove them.
Whether creating a dedicated Estimation and Evaluation (E&E) workspace inside the hangar, streamlining engineering decisions, or improving coordination with Quality Assurance, Production Control, and the MRO-L team, program leadership focused on empowering employees. Key contributors across these efforts including E&E specialist Tyrelle Simmons, Production Controller James Sinclair and Quality Control Inspector Jason Langmo, who helped ensure communication and technical decisions moved quickly while maintaining the program's uncompromising quality standards.
Decision making was pushed to the lowest appropriate level, allowing supervisors, work leaders, engineers, and artisans to resolve issues where the work was being performed. Instead of waiting for multiple levels of approval, knowledgeable professionals were trusted to make timely decisions while remaining fully accountable for results.
That culture change made all the difference.
"Our vision is to be the best H-53 depot on the planet," Thomas told the workforce.
Employees responded because leadership did more than ask for ideas, they acted on them. The result has been a highly engaged workforce committed to continuous improvement and united behind a common goal: returning safe, mission ready aircraft to the Fleet as efficiently as possible.
The H-53 Program also strengthened partnerships across FRCSW. Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality Assurance, and Production Control now work as one integrated team, eliminating delays and focusing resources on aircraft currently in work. Every stage of the repair process is monitored through production gates, allowing adjustments before minor issues become major delays. Leaders and subject matter experts across the production floor, including Supervisor Gary Thompson and Metal Work Leader Ryan Huynh, have played important roles in fostering collaboration between shops and keeping aircraft moving efficiently through the depot process.
Despite the dramatic reduction in turnaround time, leadership remains unwavering on one point: safety and quality are never negotiable.
Every aircraft leaving FRCSW will carry Marines around the world, and every artisan understands the responsibility that comes with returning those aircraft to service. Faster production will never come at the expense of employee safety or aircraft quality.
Programs do not improve themselves. People improve programs.
The program's success is driven by dedicated professionals throughout the organization, including Aircraft Examiners William Fears and Kyle Simms, Mechanic Work Leader Rigoberto Villagomez, and Supervisor Steven Armour, whose leadership and technical expertise reflect the professionalism found across the entire H-53 team.
Ultimately, the program's greatest achievement has not simply been reducing turnaround time, it has been building a culture of trust, accountability, and innovation. By empowering employees, removing barriers, and maintaining an uncompromising commitment to safety, quality, and readiness, the FRCSW H-53 Program has become the standard for depot maintenance excellence.
The challenge now is sustaining that success.
Based on the results achieved over the past year, the team is well positioned to do exactly that.
FRCSW employees are the Backbone of Military Readiness!
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2026 14:54 |
| Story ID: | 572258 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, FRCSW H-53 Program Sets the Standard for Depot Maintenance, by Michael A Furlano, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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