James Young, Vector Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead, received the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) Outstanding Performance Award during the NAE's monthly Air Board meeting Jan. 17.

Young has been involved with Vector -- a web-based version of the Integrated Logistics Support Management System (ILSMS) which combines 19 data sources into a single analytical tool, allowing program office personnel to quickly identify readiness degraders which are affecting warfighters -- in its various forms since 2013. He focuses on the supporting elements for software application development, coupled with managing the project as a whole with respect to cost, schedule, and performance of development efforts.

"The NAE benefits immensely by the complete transparency available with this application, user input, and the dynamic responsiveness of the Vector development team," Young explained. "This ensures Vector's data and mission remain relevant to the warfighter."

Naval aviation leadership continues to tout the importance of comprehensive and timely readiness data to success, and Young's work helps enhance both those factors.

"Through persistence and focus, you greatly accelerated the tool development schedule, successfully introducing the web-based Vector tool seven months earlier than originally planned," wrote Vice Adm. Paul Grosklags, commander, Naval Air Systems Command, in a letter accompanying Young's award. "Additionally, you were the key facilitator in developing several recent tool enhancements, including supply stock out, consolidated burndown charts, and initial development of weapons and depot component capabilities for Vector."

Despite such praise, Young credits the success to a larger group which includes the entire IPT, the Vector Wyle Development team, the Vector Product Support lead and technical working groups.

"Vector is not any one person, but truly a team vision and concept that serves to provide the best data available in support of the warfighter," he said.

The hard work of that team enabled the short-suspense delivery.

"Debuting Vector early, although very successful, was not without risk," Young said. "Several barriers presented themselves prior to launch with respect to fiscal constraints and less-than-optimal hosting environments. At the onset of Vector 1.0, many hours were spent caring and feeding this application as with any new launch. Vector is unique in that it takes several data sources from various stakeholders and aggregates into the toolset that users see. This process is still very manual, and releasing early required meticulous planning from project managers."

"Prior to delivery via the web, ILSMS distribution was very cumbersome as a standalone tool and was delivered through various secured file-sharing networks," Young continued. "Releasing Vector early provided unfettered access to the application via a newly-designed authentication application."

Since the release, Vector has seen a 32 percent increase in its user base compared to the ILSMS, and that number continues to grow daily. Providing Vector ahead of schedule allowed for more visibility to the NAE leadership and analysts, ultimately increasing naval aviation warfighter readiness.

"I am most proud of the culmination of three years' hard work that went into Vector," Young explained. "To be recognized by a core group of naval aviation leadership, especially when it's respective of the Vector application, provides merit and validation to all the members of the Vector IPT and for what each individual had accomplished in support of this effort."

The NAE is a cooperative partnership of naval aviation stakeholders focused on sustaining required current readiness and advancing future warfighting capabilities at best possible cost. It is comprised of Sailors, Marines, civilians, and contractors from across service branches and organizations, working together to identify and resolve readiness barriers and warfighting degraders.

Naval aviation leaders have distributed the monthly NAE Outstanding Performance Award since 2008 to promote a culture of costwise readiness. For more information, contact the NAE at nae@navy.mil.

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