DoN CM: Criticality of Navy Configuration Management (CM)

Mr. Daniel K. Christensen is the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Configuration/Data Manager, Department Head for the NAVAIR Sustainment Group (NSG) Configuration/Data Management Department, defining policy, processes, procedures and responsibilities governing Configuration Management (CM) and Data Management (DM) for 34 naval aviation weapon system program offices within NAVAIR.  He has over 50 years of naval experience with 20 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as an Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer, 6 years as a contractor supporting the Department of the Navy and various Program Offices and 24 years as a civilian at NAVAIR.  For the last nine years, Daniel has been the Defense Standardization Counsel Configuration Management Working Group (DSC CMSWG) Chairman, which developed the SAE EIA-649-1 and SAE EIA 649-1A“Configuration Management Requirements for Defense Contracts” standard.

Daniel has a CMPIC Masters Certification of Enterprise CM and CM Subject Matter Expert from the University of Houston, TX.  Additionally, Daniel is a certified Enterprise CM Professional and a member of the International Society of CM and is a certified CMII Professional from the Institute of Configuration Management. He is also a certified Configuration and Data Manager from National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), and a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College Level III Advanced Program Management, Logistics and Information Resources Management curriculum.

Mr. Ed Blackstone is the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Configuration/Data Manager, Deputy Department Head for the NAVAIR Sustainment Group (NSG) Configuration/Data Management Department, defining policy, processes, procedures and responsibilities governing Configuration Management (CM) and Data Management (DM) for 34 naval aviation weapon system program offices within NAVAIR. A retired Senior Chief Aviation Maintenance Administration, Mr. Blackstone has more than 38 years of naval experience with 22 years of active duty service, two years as CM contractor support, and three years government civilian Deputy Configuration Management Lead supporting the H-60 helicopter program (PMA-299). In 2012, he was selected to be the Configuration Management Lead for the Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems Program Office (PMA-266), where he served for 10 years before his selection to his current position as the Deputy Department Head for the NAVAIR Sustainment Group (NSG) Configuration/Data Management Department in August 2022.       

Mr. Blackstone holds a CMPIC Masters Certification in Enterprise CM through the University of Houston and is a CMPIC certified CM Subject Matter Expert. Additionally, he is a Level III certified CM Professional through the International Society of CM; Level III certified in Program Management, Level III certified in Life Cycle Logistics, and Level I certified in Information Technology through the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). He is also an honor graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy.