Navy will create a Joint Strike Fighter fleet integration office

The Navy announced today it is creating a Joint Strike Fighter fleet integration office at the Pentagon, which will be established this summer, according to a service spokeswoman.

Rear Adm. Roy Kelley will be the office's director. It will be co-located within the office of the chief of naval operations for air warfare (N98), Lt. j.g. Kara Yingling told Inside Defense April 12.

Kelley will be the point of contact between the Navy and the F-35 Joint Program Office, Yingling said.

This is another step the Navy is taking on its path to declare the F-35C carrier variant wartime-ready. The service anticipates achieving initial operational capability between August 2018 and February 2019.

The Air Force has a similar office. Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian is the F-35 integration office director for the service, which is located in the Pentagon.