A longtime NAVAIR professional with deep roots in the logistician community was recently named as the new deputy assistant commander for Acquisition, or AIR-1.0.

Anthony Manich, who joined AIR-1.0 on June 5, was previously assigned as the principal deputy program manager for the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-201), where he helped incorporate the first network-enabled weapons technology into the joint standoff weapon, Harpoon and small-diameter bomb weapons.

“With his background in three program management offices, foreign military sales and logistics communities, Tony is a perfect fit for AIR-1.0,” said Keith Sanders who as assistant commander for Acquisition leads AIR-1.0 for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). “He brings a broad range of first-hand experience to the challenges of building NAVAIR’s program management capabilities.”

The Acquisition organization manages six programs: Communications (PMW/A-170); Aircrew Systems (PMA-202); Naval Aviation Training Systems (PMA-205); Air Combat Electronics (PMA-209); H-46 Sea Knight (PMA-226); and Aviation Support Equipment (PMA-260).

Additionally, AIR-1.0 leads the command-wide NAVAIR Acquisition/Program Management Competency, overseeing approximately 1,200 civilian and military personnel. Those competencies, or professional communities, include Acquisition Policy and Process; Aviation/Ship Integration; Program Management Personnel and Support (AIR-1.3); International Programs; Acquisition Force Management; and Environmental Programs.

In addition to directly supporting Sanders, Manich has primary oversight of AIR-1.3, the organizational home for many of NAVAIR’s program managers.

“I am excited about this new opportunity to continue serving the Patuxent River community as well as the Sailors and Marines around the globe,” Manich said.

A native of East Chicago, Manich is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering and a Master of Science in management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Additionally, he is a graduate of the NAVAIR Senior Executive Management Development Program and the Defense Systems Management College’s Advanced and Executive Program Managers’ courses.

Manich began government service in 1984 at the Naval Aviation Depot in Jacksonville, Fla., in the NAVAIR Logistics intern program. He provided engineering support to the A-7 depot modification and component overhaul facility.

He attended the Aircraft Maintenance Officer’s course and returned to the P-3 Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department in Jacksonville. After completing this rotation, Manich transferred to the Naval Aviation Logistics Center.

He subsequently moved to NAVAIR headquarters at its previous location in Crystal City, Va., in 1986 and began a three-year association with the Electronic Warfare program office as a logistician.

His career at NAVAIR continued, and in 1988, Manich transitioned to the F/A-18 Program Office as the Foreign Military Sales lead logistician for new business and later became the F/A-18 Finland Logistics Program lead. He was selected as the F/A-18 Finland program manager four years later.

Subsequently, Manich was assigned to the Program Executive Officer (PEO) Tactical Aircraft Programs where he supported the PEO in implementing the multifunctional information distribution system Link-16 into the F/A-18.

He was assigned as principal deputy program manager of the EA-6B “Prowler” program in 2001. During this time, he provided crucial support to the U.S. Army and the j