ARINC Specialists at Fighting Obsolescence Are Recognized at 2009 DMSMS Forum

Annapolis, Maryland—Three ARINC specialists who have spent a major part of their careers fighting the effects of obsolescence and parts shortages on America’s weapons systems were recently honored for their work by the DMSMS & Standardization Conference at its 2009 meeting in Orlando, Florida.

John (Jack) McDermott, a long-time ARINC Engineering Services, LLC employee who is now an industry consultant, was named 2009 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Two current ARINC employees, Charles (Chuck) Marshall and Robert Peyton, received team achievement awards for their work as key members of the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) DMSMS Team, based in Ohio.   

DMSMS, or Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages, is a major concern for the sustainment and maintenance of military weapons systems, which are often needed in service decades after their original parts become unavailable.

The Lifetime Achievement Award cited Jack McDermott for two decades of leadership in helping agencies affected by obsolescence to collaborate. The Award noted, “Jack's work has been focused on one goal: working together and collaborating to help minimize the impact of DMSMS on the warfighter.” He was also recognized for helping establish and then co-chairing the Department of Defense DMSMS Teaming Group. Several Government and Defense officials also volunteered compliments:  “Jack is not only a pioneer in proactive DMSMS, but probably saved the taxpayer millions of dollars by sharing common solutions, at a time when every program was developing its own unique solution,” said Ron Shimazu, Chief Engineer for Defense Microelectronics Activity at the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense.

William J. Pumford, Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP) DMSMS Program Manager for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, said "Jack always showed a great deal of patience when explaining the intricacies of obsolescence management, so that GIDEP could provide better support."

In recognizing ARINC employees Charles Marshall, Operations Manager, and Robert Peyton, Senior Logistician, as members of the DSCC Team, the Achievement Award noted “they provide professional assistance to the DoD, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and allied DMSMS communities. In a typical year, the Team will process over 500 cases, review over 50,000 National Stock Numbers (NSNs), purchase over $5,000,000 in discontinued parts, and generate cost avoidances of over $80 million.” The DSCC team is on the forefront of proactive DMSMS management, and provides significant leadership, process innovations and training to the DoD and FMS DMSMS communities.

In addition to their DSCC activity, Marshall has developed lesson plans and led DMSMS Conference courses for the past 8 years, and Peyton has been active in providing unique DMSMS item management knowledge and experience, bringing DMSMS office processes in line with new DLA Enterprise Business System procedures.

ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Release: 09-123

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