Even with a list of credentials to his name, Joe Peca believes his success as an Aviation and Missile Command Logistics Assistance Representative comes down to one thing -- the "care factor" that he brings to the job.
Every day on the job, Peca combines his involvement and dedication of 22 years of aviation maintenance experience with the strength of the AMCOM team at Redstone Arsenal to make a difference for Soldiers and for Army aviation as a whole.
"Although one's background is important, one's 'care factor' is significant in this position," Peca said.
"To what level your involvement is and how dedicated you are in finding solutions, no matter the time of day or day of the week, is paramount. LARs use all of their resources in finding answers, collectively working with other LARs, the Program Manager's Office and the Aviation Engineering Directorate (of the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center) toward that same goal in enhancing the readiness of Army aviation units worldwide."
Peca's "care factor" is being recognized this week as he is officially named AMCOM's LAR of the Year. The award was presented to him during the AMCOM 101 for Aviation at Redstone Arsenal.
In his job, Peca supports the Army National Guard and Reserve Component aviation units in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, a primary support area consisting of 125 aircraft -- including the CH-47D/F Chinook, UH-60A/L Black Hawks, HH-60M Black Hawk MEDEVAC and the AH-64D Apache -- and 30 pieces of Aviation Ground Support Equipment. He provides AMCOM LAR support to Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.; Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 at Johnstown, Pa.; Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 at Edgewood-Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.; Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 at New Castle, Del.; and Johnstown-Pa., Army Reserve.
Even though he spends most of his days working on sustainment and maintenance issues related to Army helicopters, Peca enjoys most working side-by-side with Guard and Reserve Soldiers, and the team at AMCOM.
"The best part about the job is being able to affect change by collaborating, brainstorming, and finding viable and safe answers to maintenance/technical actions with maintainers, test pilots, engineers and logistics specialists. There's no one individual who makes it happen. It takes a combined team effort and an array of resources in gaining absolute success," he said.
Like most LARs, Peca brings to the job a background both as a Soldier and a civilian working helicopter maintenance. He served for more than 10 years on active duty, taking on assignments as a UH-60 Crew Chief in Wiesbaden, Germany; a Phase Team Mechanic/Team Lead at Fort Campbell, Ky.; Phase Team Lead and Technical Inspector at Gieblestadt, Germany; and Senior Crew Chief and Section Sergeant at Fort Carson, Colo. As a contractor, he worked with the UH-60 Reset Program at Fort Campbell, and overseas in Kuwait and Iraq as a Team Lead and Site Supervisor.
Seven years ago, Peca became an AMCOM LAR.
"While working as a contractor in Aviation Maintenance, one of my previous supervisors encouraged me to apply to become a LAR," he said. "I was reluctant at first, but it was his persistence that finally convinced me the job was right up my alley.
"I remember him telling me the position allows one to be involved in all facets of Aviation Maintenance Support, but most of all, allows the greatest chance in affecting a positive change, and would allow me to continue training the up-and-comer maintainers within the Army. I was doing a lot of the same while in the Army and as a contractor, but this position allowed me the chance to be the go-to-guy. It's a rewarding position, as I'm able to work with the best of the best throughout Army aviation."
He has deployed three times as an AMCOM LAR, to Jalalabad-Afghanistan, Basrah-Iraq, and Kandahar-Afghanistan.
Whether deployed or stateside supporting units, Peca said his job involves interfacing with unit commands and working closely with Quality Assurance/Control Sections in evaluating the feasibility of on-aircraft repairs. He also serves as the bridge between the Army Engineering Directorate in gaining authorization for more in-depth repairs.
"As LARs, our role is 'utility,' and never truly defined by any one support role function, but ranges from supply logistics assistance to training, but mostly in maintenance and technical Support for all mission design series," Peca said.
"The job really does vary. One minute one may be asked to help coordinate a one-for-one turn-in of a Generic Aircraft Nitrogen Generator with Letterkenny Army Deport, which is part of our Aviation Ground Support Equipment support role, and the next minute be asked to help troubleshoot a UH-60 Flight Control System anomaly."
Because the Guard and Reserve units he supports are spread out across four states, Peca finds that his job becomes most challenging when he is fielding multiple technical issues through e-mails and over the phones.
"I may be communicating with four or five maintenance officers and three or four Quality Assurance representatives at the same time, all at different geographical locations, and all with different issues," he said. "And, all while off-station conducting a site visit with limited connectivity, realizing the day's work will most definitely become that night's work.
"It's challenging to keep track of the various key leaders within the support region based on geography, but it's that very challenge that keeps me going every day."
Peca believes strongly in the importance of the AMCOM LAR's role in the field, and he is grateful to be part of AMCOM's group of professional and experience LARs.
"I'm proud to be of a team whose primary purpose and mission is supporting the Soldiers in the field," he said.
Being available and having effective communication skills are vital to the job of a LAR. Peca said a successful LAR is a LAR that Soldiers know on a first-name basis, and that units can call on whenever an issue arises. LARs also have to be good managers, be a contributing member of the LAR network, and a team player with Soldiers in the field.
"Successful LARs use resources wisely, they're proactive, and make use of the wide range of experience their peers offer in gaining real-time solutions," he said.
"An Aviation LAR needs to responsive, carefully aggressive and possess a high-level of involvement with their customer base. This is especially important when supporting outlying units that may not see you on a regular basis. The bottom line is a good LAR should be visible on the flight line and hangar of their supported units."
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