Improving Readiness with a Public-Private Partnership: NAVAIR Auxiliary Power Unit Total Logistics Support Program

Abstract

The morning of April 15th, 1998, found Debra Bautista struggling with a daunting assignment. As the Program Manager for the F/A-18 fighter Auxiliary Power Unit at the Naval Aviation Depot, Cherry Point (NADEP-CP), she was charged with developing and implementing a partnership between NADEP-CP and private industry to help reduce the cost of managing and distributing repairable F/A-18 auxiliary power units (APUs) and to increase system reliability, maintainability, and related spare parts availability. The APU performs the critical function of generating power to start the aircraft engines and provide electrical power on the ground. In fact, the day before, Honeywell, Inc. had visited the Cherry Point depot to discuss such a partnering arrangement for APU repair. This would be the Navy's first public-private venture; thus the task facing Bautista was a considerable one. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) annually procures billions of dollars worth of systems, supplies, and services in support of the national military strategy.