Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) leadership announced Jeff Blackstock as a winner of the Outstanding Performance Award during an Air Board teleconference Jan. 17.

Blackstock is the functional lead for Vector -- a combination of 19 data sources in a single analytical tool. It allows program office personnel to quickly identify readiness degraders which are affecting warfighters. The tool itself can analyze the data and perform trend analysis to show increases in readiness degradation not previously identified.

"It means a lot to me to know the hard work that was put into this system is recognized," Blackstock said, who also credited the work of his teammates.

Along with his role as Vector functional lead, Blackstock also served as the help desk coordinator and lead Vector instructor. In the letter of appreciation which accompanied the award, Vice Adm. Paul A. Grosklags, commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), explained Blackstock has been "integral in developing and implementing a data analysis tool that enhances capabilities for all Navy and Marine Corps type/model/series (T/M/S) aircraft programs and fleet teams to analyze and evaluate readiness and cost degraders."

The letter additionally commended Blackstock for improving the value of the Vector toolset and providing training to more than 1,100 military, civilian, and contractor personnel across the NAE.

"The training was given to show analysts and program managers how to identify increases in readiness degradation and drill down from the T/M/S to the system, and the components in that system, that are impacting readiness," Blackstock explained. "From there, root cause analysis can be performed to determine the solutions needed."

Keeping aircraft fit to fly is an important piece of ensuring naval aviation is ready whenever and wherever needed.

"With the events that are taking place all over the globe, naval aviation needs to be at its best," Blackstock said. "The NAE provides the collaboration needed from the decision makers down to force and supply managers, to the warfighter to ensure that our global force is at its peak and is available to meet the mission no matter what that mission is. If the mission is humanitarian or warfighting, the world is looking to the United States Navy to be there to answer the call."

He added what makes him most proud every day is having an impact on Sailors and Marines.

"A wise Navy chief [petty officer] asked me as a young Sailor, 'What's going to happen if you DON'T do your job?,'" Blackstock shared. "That taught me a long time ago that no matter what our job is, it makes a difference sometime, somewhere down the line."

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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