250521-A-PV259-1001

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Letterkenny Army Depot artisans, along with members of the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, participate in a virtual troubleshooting session on a critical Patriot weapons systems component on May 21.

Subject matter experts from across LEAD’s Directorate of Industrial Operations, Directorate of Strategic Management, and Directorate of Product Assurance conducted the session with the 11th ADA BDE (also known as Top Notch), a U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Logistics Assistance representative, and maintainers from the U.S. Air Force's 627th Air Base Group from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

(Courtesy photo)

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – When the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, deployed out of Ft. Bliss, Texas, notified Letterkenny Army Depot of a severe leak on a critical Patriot weapons systems component, LEAD artisans came together to successfully repair the leak, without ever having to leave the depot.

Subject matter experts from across LEAD’s Directorate of Industrial Operations, Directorate of Strategic Management, and Directorate of Product Assurance conducted a virtual troubleshooting session with the 11th ADA BDE (also known as Top Notch), a U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Logistics Assistance representative, and maintainers from the U.S. Air Force's 627th Air Base Group from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

“Our team, led by Adam Martin, identified the issue and recommended field expedient repair procedures,” said Kate Williams, LEAD DSM director. “We validated the repair process and the materials to be used and made recommendations on how to proceed.”

According to Williams, if LEAD artisans had to go to the deployed location, it would take at least two artisans with multiple days of travel and then at least two days on the ground. Additionally, if the 11th ADA BDE had to send the part back, the asset would be down for an estimated 90 to 100 days.

“It only took us one hour to complete the virtual troubleshooting,” said Williams. “This saved a great amount of time, travel, and costs, and at the end of the call, the asset was ready to go.”

A Top Notch senior warrant officer validated the repairs made were successful.

“I want to thank everyone again for the video call and support,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Trey Conyers, 11th ADA BDE Support Operations officer in charge. “We tested the asset at the depot here at our deployed location. Our shop pressurized, refilled, and test bed the asset to confirm it was operational with no leaks. Thanks to your support, we now have one readily available asset.”

Williams met Conyers on a recent trip to Kuwait and told him to get in touch with her if he or his team ever needed anything. Conyers reached out with the asset issue and for the first time at LEAD, artisans conducted a virtual troubleshooting and repair session.

“This is a great example of how LEAD uses our expertise to deliver knowledge and contribute to the readiness of Joint Force,” said Williams. “Our job is to build on that readiness, and if we can do that by sending knowledge forward, we will.”