# Reviving the Giants: The unsung heroes behind military machinery

/ Published Feb. 13, 2024
RICHMOND, Va., 
Nestled within the bays of a modest facility at Defense Supply Center Richmond lies an integral component in the advancement of the Defense Department’s industrial metalworking capabilities – an organization dedicated to revolutionizing defense manufacturing through the procurement of new equipment and refurbishment of old equipment.

As the sole source for a broad spectrum of essential machinery, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation’s Industrial Plant Equipment Services Division has an impact extending far beyond items under the simplified acquisition threshold limit, embracing industrial milling, grinding, sawing and filing machines alongside planers, shapers and metal finishing tools.
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"My division’s strength lies in the people" – David Theriot, IPESD chief

IPESD Chief David Theriot traced the division's evolution back to a pivotal shift in 1991. In the immediate wake of the Gulf War, DLA transferred its machine tool procurement, repair and rebuild mission from the Memphis-based Defense Industrial Plant Equipment Center to DLA Aviation, marking not only the birth of IPESD, but also a significant transformation in approach and methodology.

“My division’s strength lies in the people and the structured framework they work in, encompassing five specialized branches,” Theriot said.

The Customer Relations Branch is tasked with effective communication and efficient fulfillment of machine tool needs, and bridges IPESD with service requirements. The Supplier Relations Branch is focused on developing technical specifications and conducting quality assurance for both new and repaired machines. Two acquisitions branches that streamline the procurement process, covering both pre-award procedures for new machine procurement and post-award contract administration. The maintenance depot is the heart of equipment longevity, specializing in rebuilding, retrofitting, and repairing metalworking machinery.

Situated at the Naval Support Activity in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, the IPESD Maintenance Depot is unique in its scope and capabilities. With around 60 dedicated technicians and support staff, it is the federal government's only IPE maintenance depot. Under the leadership of Plant Manager Brian Heath, the depot executes a comprehensive machine tool rebuilding process, from teardowns to updating electrical codes, backed by robust training programs.

Underlining the importance of resource preservation and cost-effectiveness, Theriot highlights the military services' emphasis on repairing, upgrading, or replacing aging machine tools. This approach is cemented by substantial financial commitments, including the Navy's $800 million procurement plan and the acquisition of significant Federal Supply Class IPE equipment.

IPESD's support extends globally, with repair and installation operations spanning U.S. Navy shipyards and numerous locations in the United States and abroad. Its international presence in Guam, Japan and Saudi Arabia underscores IPESD's crucial role in maintaining vital machine tools for military operations and ship repair facilities.

Heath shed light on the advantages of refurbishing older machines, particularly from the 60s and 70s: “Rebuilding these ‘old’ machines is very useful, as the in-service life after rebuild can be another 15-plus years,” he said.

These extensive rebuilds, which can vary in duration, ultimately pay off by significantly extending the service life of machinery used to keep America’s military equipment in top-notch shape.

“The ability to sustain a weapons system and keep pace with our competitors goes beyond the traditional thought process of replacing a part,” said Floyd Moore, director of DLA Aviation’s Engineering Directorate. “Our servicemen and women must have the capability and technology to repair a weapon system at the point of need, stateside or abroad. The work performed by the IPE Division is providing our organic industrial base with the needed capabilities through the refurbishment or existing metal working machines and the procurement of new machines with advanced technology and capabilities to quickly repair current and future weapon systems.”

To learn more about IPE services, visit their webpage or email avniperweb@dla.mil.