TIPping Point: B-52 CERP—Old Bird, New Tricks
When it comes to keeping old weapon systems capable and relevant, the B-52 System Program Office (SPO) knows how to get things done. The B-52 has been critical to United States air power for over 60 years, and it’s getting a major upgrade to stay in the fight for decades to come. The Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) is replacing old engines and numerous related subsystems. But with the team divided between Ohio, Oklahoma, and California, successful collaboration across the organization was a challenge. They needed a way to work as a team in real time to design, develop, and plan testing for this complex modification effort, and a digital, model-based approach provided a solution.
Initially, the learning curve was high, and the B-52 SPO struggled trying to find a viable path forward. IT policies at the three bases differed on what software tools were allowed. The government team needed training and on-the-job opportunities to learn and embrace modern collaborative approaches.
They started using LaunchPad, a collaborative digital environment available to government teams which provides Airmen and Guardians with free, easy, and secure access to cloud-based tools. It’s accessible via browser using a Common Access Card (CAC), so no special software approvals are needed. CERP’s engineers tackled training to learn to use the available tools. From there, the team started building models of the B-52’s systems and comparing old and new designs.
Learning a new way to work took time, effort, and patience, especially since the returns weren’t immediately obvious. But less than a year later, the impacts are starting to multiply:
- Everyone’s on the same page, with a common understanding of the systems.
- New engineers and testers can familiarize themselves with B-52 systems more intuitively.
- There’s easy, effective, and efficient communication and collaboration across the team.
- Problems are identified and fixed early, reducing rework and saving both cost and schedule compared to legacy approaches.
And it’s not just about getting the job done. The team is enjoying the shared learning experience, tightening team cohesion despite geographic distance. With enhanced transparency, collaboration, and digital tools, the B-52 SPO is paving the way to accelerate positive change!
Many thanks to Mr. Kirk Czarnecka, CERP Digital Transformation Program Manager, and Mr. Robert McDonald, CERP Digital Engineer, in the B-52 SPO (AFLCMC/WBD), who provided the information for this story. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to them at [email protected] and [email protected], as well as their government lead, Ms. Carolyn Goettke, at [email protected].
This material was cleared for public release on 7 February 2025, case number AFMC-2025-0006.
