TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, PA. - Its official, Tobyhanna Army Depot is certified to overhaul a sophisticated piece of Navy equipment.

The Navy recently designated Tobyhanna the overhaul point for the Depth Detector Type 2. Employees here are trained and ready to begin accepting the assets later this year. The transfer of workload from Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., to Tobyhanna is the result of a Base Realignment and Closure decision. Workload includes depot maintenance of electronic components (non-airborne), fire control systems and components, radar and radio.

"I think everyone did an outstanding job of preparing for this new workload," said Jeff Morman, chief of Production Engineering Directorate's C3/Avionics Engineering Branch. "From setting up the line to submitting the necessary paperwork, the team stepped up to the task, pulling everything together to become certified."

Lean initiatives were implemented to set up work space in the Transponder Branch to carry out parallel methods and processes [for repair of the equipment] that were performed at Seal Beach. Test equipment and spare parts were also transferred to Tobyhanna.

"In addition to the mechanical and electronics work employees will perform, components will be sent to other depot organizations for work," Morman said. "For instance, refinishing work will be accomplished by personnel in the Systems Integration and Support Directorate." Morman also noted that personnel in engineering, production control and quality assisted with the certification process.

There was a learning curve for electronics mechanics John Kostiak and Brett Bellas when it came to overhauling the item.

"This asset is such a fine example of sophisticated 1950s technology," Kostiak said. "Compared to other items repaired at the depot, we had a lot to learn about how the equipment worked and then how to overhaul it."

Bellas noted that regardless of the challenges, he's excited to be a part of this new workload. "I'm looking forward to applying the skills I've learned to provide mission capable assets to the customer."

Assets will be shipped to the depot for repair; however, depot capabilities extend to on-site repairs when necessary. Tobyhanna is certified to work on the asset and its two subassemblies; each with their own test procedures.

"The overhaul process replaces 100 percent of selected items," said Mike Flinn, mechanical engineering technician. Flinn and Electronics Engineer Stanley Shimizu transferred from the California installation, bringing with them experience and knowledge of the overhaul process.

"The assets are disassembled and components are sent to other shops to undergo processes like welding and painting before finally being reassembled and tested," Flinn said.

Flinn and Shimizu said it means a lot to them that the Navy can rely on Tobyhanna to provide a ready supply of assets to support the warfighter. Both commended depot personnel for their hard work preparing for the arrival of these critical assets.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.

About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronics warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.