Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) Project Support and Integrated Test Engineer, Richard Flere, recently returned from a volunteer mission to repair and upgrade NATO's Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense site in Deveselu, Romania.

Aegis Ashore is part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach, which is designed to defend the U.S. military and its allies in Europe against possible ballistic missile attacks. The Aegis Weapon System is one of the world’s most sophisticated weapons systems capable of targeting missiles and neutralizing them in the outer atmosphere before they can reach their destination.

Flere acted as the technical point of contact ensuring rigorous compliance was maintained. As the Integrated Test Engineer, he also took responsibilities ensuring the certifications related to key events were fully supported and that all Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) was properly documented.

“While working under the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Technical Warrant Chief Engineer (CHENG), I was responsible for all technical work conducted on the Aegis Ashore System,” said Flere. “And for obtaining the certification for the availability, which is the documentation showing the work as accurate and certifies approval by the CHENG.”

Flere explained that the CHENG, as the technical warrant holder, was accountable to NAVSEA for all technical work conducted in their Area of Operation. The warrant holder enforces strict guidelines and is responsible for making difficult risk-management decisions when guidelines are not available.

“We have very strict standards when we complete technical work,” said Flere. “If something doesn’t meet those standards, they must be evaluated thoroughly before it will be implemented.”

“An important part of compliance is safety,” said MARMC Project Support Engineer Tone Daddario. “We are always focused on the safety of our Navy’s personnel, and have a system of checks and balances in place to make sure our technical work is done as safely and effectively as possible.”

MARMC provides surface ship maintenance, management and oversight of private sector maintenance and fleet technical assistance to ships in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and provides support to the 5th and 6th Fleet Area of Responsibilities. They are also responsible for the floating dry-dock Dynamic (AFDL-6).

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