Title: A resolution encouraging the Secretary of the Air Force to designate the Maine Air National Guard 101st Air Refueling Wing as a center of excellence for additive manufacturing technology.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution encourages the Department of the Air Force to designate the Maine Air National Guard 101st Air Refueling Wing at Bangor Air National Guard Base as a center of excellence for additive manufacturing technology.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 670 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 670

 Encouraging the Secretary of the Air Force to designate the Maine Air 
 National Guard 101st Air Refueling Wing as a center of excellence for 
                   additive manufacturing technology.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 14, 2022

    Mr. King (for himself and Ms. Collins) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Encouraging the Secretary of the Air Force to designate the Maine Air 
 National Guard 101st Air Refueling Wing as a center of excellence for 
                   additive manufacturing technology.

Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing is home to four technicians certified to 
        print airworthy parts, two-thirds of the entire uniformed force of 
        certified technicians;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing is the only Air National Guard unit capable 
        of printing airworthy parts, while also fielding the technicians 
        certified to print airworthy parts;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing has created eight different tools for six 
        different maintenance shops, enhancing aircrew maintenance efficiency 
        and increasing aircraft readiness;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing has modeled and provided three training 
        aids allowing complete comprehensive drill status guardsmen training, 
        resulting in increased technician competency, and superior aircraft 
        maintenance repairs;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing has the ability to model and prove a well-
        fitting part before machining, allowing for easier identification of 
        errors, and preventing the duplication of non-usable parts, increasing 
        aircraft readiness and reducing material waste and cost;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing is the only Air National Guard unit to have 
        an authorized polymer printer in their possession;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing partners with the University of Maine 
        Advanced Structures and Composites Department;
Whereas this allows both organizations to share the best practices and emerging 
        technologies, while also allowing the 101st to perform strength testing 
        of part candidates and receive feedback for redesign options;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing has created five jigs or fixtures which 
        significantly aid aircrews in making repairs, while also decreasing 
        aircraft downtime and repair inaccuracy;
Whereas the 101st Air Refueling Wing has modeled five aircraft parts as proofs 
        of design before machining replacement parts, successfully identifying 
        model errors and reducing material waste and cost; and
Whereas the Army Reserve 75th Innovation Command requested that the 101st Air 
        Refueling Wing model and produce five parts as a pilot program 
        connecting units with additive manufacturing stations capable of 
        supporting modeling and printing requests: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate encourages the Secretary of the Air Force 
to designate the Maine Air National Guard 101st Air Refueling Wing at 
Bangor Air National Guard Base as a center of excellence for additive 
manufacturing technology.
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