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Recognizing and Honoring NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support on the Occasion of its 100th Anniversary
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WHEREAS, The Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) was established on November 28, 1917 in Philadelphia. After the United States entered World War I, the strain placed on aircraft manufacturers by the U.S. Army’s requirements for an enormous quantity of airplanes rendered most manufacturers unable or unwilling to fill the Navy’s comparatively smaller requirements. To alleviate this issue and to assure part of its aircraft supply through organic support, the Navy built its first and only Navy-owned and operated aircraft factory. The NAF also served to carry out development of naval aviation engineering and design work and to maintain a check on cost growth for commercial aviation production and design; and
WHEREAS, The entire NAF plant was completed just 110 days after its groundbreaking. Less than a year later, and 151 days after the NAF received the drawings, the NAF completed the building of the first H-16. This helped meet the greatest need for the Navy at the time; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1920s, the NAF supply department became the main source of parts and equipment for naval aviation. As naval aviation expanded and the factory’s workload grew, it became increasingly challenging to meet all requirements under the existing organization structure. In April 1941, the Aviation Supply Office (ASO) was established as a “separate and distinct activity” from the supply department of the NAF to navigate the growing complexities of the naval air system. In December 1942, ASO moved to Northeast Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The NAF ceased aircraft production in 1945, though it continued to operate as a research, development, testing and evaluation center until 1956; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, the Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP) was established with the merging of ASO in Philadelphia and the Ship’s Parts Control Center (SPCC) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The move to join the activities together was the result of a need to reduce costs and infrastructure as well as to standardize inventory management procedures with a mission to provide Navy, Marine Corps, Joint and Allied Forces quality supplies and services on a timely basis; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, NAVICP’s name changed to NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) as a result of a Naval Supply Systems Command One NAVSUP, Enterprise-wide branding initiative. Each NAVSUP activity became a node in the "Global Logistics Support Network" instead of an individual entity; and
WHEREAS, There are now 1,145 military and civilian personnel employed in Philadelphia at NAVSUP WSS, which primarily focuses on aviation weapon system support. Among the aircraft platforms supported in Philadelphia are the F/A-18, E-2/C-2, KC-130, P-3, P-8, H-53, H-60, H-1 and V-22 as well as various engines, common avionics and common and peculiar support equipment; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is honored to be the home of NAVSUP WSS, which continues the tradition of equipping our nation’s military that began with the Naval Aircraft Factory. The City is proud of the selfless service and dedication of all the men and women who have worked in Philadelphia for the past century to protect the United States; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and congratulates NAVSUP WSS on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Rear Admiral Duke Heinz, Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, Weapon Systems Support, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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