Ronald Reagan is the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier and began its SRA for restoration work, maintenance and repairs after returning to Yokosuka last November from a six-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
“A ship's maintenance availability is always a huge project, but specific to Ronald Reagan, we work through many additional challenges here in Japan,” said Capt. Fred Goldhammer, Commanding Officer of Ronald Reagan. “That said, the teamwork and exceptional quality of work that we enjoy from our partners among government workers and contractors – Americans and Japanese working side by side, together - are second to none, and our track record over the past several years proves it. Finishing the 2021 Selected Restricted Availability helps turn the page for our crew towards another new and exciting chapter in the history of our Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier.”
NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka backed Ronald Reagan’s SRA with contracting support, executing a total of 175 contracts for repair and restoration work. After initial renovation activities began, additional repair work was identified, requiring a need to amend existing contract task orders to include updates to scope of work, length of the contracts and more.
“The contractors will go in and start their repairs, in the process of those repairs, they’ll often identify more areas on the ship that need some work,” said Gary Hall, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka afloat contracts division head. “This means the SRA will grow in the amount of work that needs to get done over time and our mission partner still relies on the SRA to be done on the original completion date.”
The afloat contracts division consists of 12 personnel whom heavily relied on each other, working through weekends and putting in overtime to expedite the numerous contract modifications to keep the SRA on schedule.
A U.S. Navy Reservist from Florida was also brought in to help clear the portfolio of contract modifications to ensure work aboard Ronald Reagan could be performed without delay. The Reservist worked during Japan’s business hours, a 13-hour difference, making it easier to work with the Japan-based team on complicated tasks and was in frequent contact with his colleagues to make certain that efforts weren’t duplicated.
“I quickly got up to speed and I focused on a long list of tasks fit for one person, freeing my team members in Japan to concentrate on complex items,” said Lt. David Kors, the Reservist temporarily supporting the afloat contracts division. “We had a strong system going and I felt like I made a difference.”
Ronald Reagan successfully completed its SRA in May, including growth work which was discovered throughout its period in port, such as hull preservation work, non-skid deck restoration, hydraulic system repairs and weapons system maintenance. The ship departed for deployment without any delays to its original schedule.
NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP’s mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and the joint warfighter.