Safety and Airborne Representative

DEFTEC Corporation•Chesapeake, VA

About The Position

DEFTEC delivers mission-critical solutions through skillfully delivered services and innovative products. We are inspired by our clients' critical missions and driven to provide the most effective solutions to execute their missions, operational challenges, and requirements. Our dedicated, experienced, and talented employees work closely with our clients to ensure the delivery of exceptional services and products. The Safety and Airborne Representative serves as the principal advisor to command leadership on all safety and occupational health matters, providing risk-related input on plans and operations while managing the headquarters' Safety and Occupational Health Program in accordance with DoD, joint, and service-specific regulations. This role oversees the Unit Safety Officer (USO) Program across all services, manages ancillary programs including Hearing Conservation and Respiratory Protection, and ensures compliance with applicable safety standards through periodic inspections, hazard reporting systems, and integration of the DoW five-step Risk Management process into training and operations. The representative conducts mishap investigations and ensures timely, accurate reporting in accordance with service-specific systems and DoWI 6055.07 notification timelines, while also developing and overseeing comprehensive safety training programs and command-wide safety campaigns. Additionally, this position provides continuous oversight and subject matter expertise for the JCSE Airborne Program, advising leadership on program health and viability, validating JMD requirements for Paid Parachutist Positions, ensuring compliance with airborne malfunction and incident reporting requirements under AR 59-4, overseeing Jumpmaster, Safety, and Drop Zone Safety Officer training, and analyzing airborne incident trends to deliver risk mitigation recommendations that safeguard personnel and sustain long-term program readiness.

Requirements

Active Secret Security clearance
Minimum of 10 years of experience in military airborne operations and 5 years' experience managing a comprehensive safety program in a military or DoW environment.
Demonstrated knowledge of DoW, Army, Navy, and Air Force safety regulations and standards.
Experience serving in a joint or multinational headquarters.
Demonstrated experience in planning and executing joint airborne operations, including personnel and heavy equipment drops.
Verifiable knowledge of joint and service doctrine, including JP 3-18, JP 3-16, FM 3-99, ATP 4-48, DAFMAN 13-217, and AFDP 3-36.
Experience with the Joint Airdrop Inspection Record and malfunction reporting procedures per AR 59-4.
Graduate of the U.S. Army Jumpmaster Course.
Completion of one of the following service safety officer courses or an equivalent program: Army: Unit Safety Officer Course (USOC) (2G-F95_DL). Marine Corps: Ground Safety for Marines (GSM) Course. Navy: NAVOSH program management, mishap investigation, and General Industry Safety Standards courses. Air Force: Air Force-level Risk Management course and Supervisor Safety Training (SST).

Nice To Haves

Certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) is highly desired.
Undergraduate degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal advisor to the command on all safety and occupational health matters, providing critical input on the risks associated with plans and operations for government lead approval.
Recommend and develop projects, products, provide administrative support and serve as primary advisor for the headquarters' Safety and Occupational Health Program in accordance with DoD, joint, and service-specific regulations.
Unit Safety Officer (USO) Program Management: Manage the command's program for additional duty safety personnel, providing guidance, training, and oversight. Will ensure proper appointments and training for personnel from all services, including: Army: Additional Duty Safety Officers (ADSOs), typically SSG or higher, appointed in writing with at least one year of unit retainability. Ensure completion of the Unit Safety Officer Course (USOC) (2G-F95_DL). Navy: Safety Petty Officers or Command Safety Representatives (CSRs) appointed in writing to manage daily safety operations and use the Enterprise Safety Applications Management System (ESAMS). Air Force: Unit Safety Representatives (USRs) appointed in writing to assist commanders and conduct spot inspections. Ensure completion of the Air Force-level Risk Management course. Marine Corps: Ground Safety Officers/Managers (GSO/GSM) appointed in writing at the battalion/squadron level. Ensure completion of the Ground Safety for Marines (GSM) course within 90 days of assignment.
Provide oversight for the following ancillary safety programs, ensuring compliance with specific DoW and federal regulations: Hearing Conservation Program (HCP): Ensure all personnel exposed to hazardous noise are identified and enrolled in the HCP. Verify that baseline and annual audiometric testing is conducted, appropriate Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) are provided, and annual training is completed in accordance with Department of War Instruction (DoWI) 6055.12 and 29 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 1910.95. Respiratory Protection Program (RPP): Oversee the command's written, worksite-specific RPP. Ensure that respiratory hazards are evaluated, appropriate NIOSH-certified respirators are selected, and that personnel receive medical evaluations, annual fit-testing, and training as required by 29 CFR 1910.134.
Ensure compliance with all applicable safety standards, including but not limited to DoW Instruction 6055.01, Army Regulation 385-10, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) Instruction 5100.23H, and Department of Airforce Manual (DAFMAN) 91-203.
Conduct periodic safety evaluations and inspections of all workplaces, facilities, and operations to identify and mitigate hazards. High-risk workplaces shall be inspected at least twice annually, with moderate and low-risk areas inspected annually.
Review and ensure all contractor operations at the Headquarters comply with their government-accepted Accident Prevention Plan (APP) developed in accordance with Engineer Manual (EM) 385-1-1. The review shall verify the APP is site-specific and includes all required components, such as a signature sheet, qualified Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO) resume, and Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs) for major work phases.
Verify that all personnel, including contractors, use required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Establish and manage a hazard reporting system that allows personnel to report unsafe conditions, including anonymously.
Integrate and document the five-step DoW Risk Management (RM) process for all training and operational activities, utilizing tools like the Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet (DD Form 2977). The five steps are: Identify Hazards: Identify potential sources of harm related to mission, environment, equipment, and personnel. Assess Hazards: Analyze hazards to determine severity and probability, assigning a risk level using a risk assessment matrix. Develop Controls and Make Risk Decisions: Develop controls (engineering, administrative, PPE) to reduce risk and determine residual risk for command-level decision-making. Implement Controls: Put control measures into practice through communication, training, and resourcing. Supervise and Evaluate: Monitor control effectiveness and continuously evaluate the process to identify new hazards.
Conduct thorough mishap investigations for all recordable accidents to determine root causes and implement corrective actions. The purpose of a safety investigation is mishap prevention and is separate from a legal investigation.
Ensure timely and accurate reporting of all mishaps according to their classification, utilizing the appropriate service-specific reporting system: Army: Army Safety Management Information System (ASMIS 2.0). Navy/Marine Corps: Risk Management Information (RMI) system, using the Streamlined Incident Reporting (SIR) module or Enterprise Safety Applications Management System (ESAMS). Air Force: Air Force Safety Automated System (AFSAS).
Adhere to strict notification timelines as established in DoWI 6055.07: Class A Mishap: Fatality, permanent total disability, or property damage of $2.5 million or more. Requires immediate voice reporting. Class B Mishap: Permanent partial disability or property damage between $600,000 and $2.5 million. Class C Mishap: Nonfatal injury with lost workdays or property damage between $60,000 and $600,000. Class D Mishap: Recordable injury not meeting higher classifications or property damage between $25,000 and $60,000. Civilian Catastrophic Events: Must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours.
Develop and implement a comprehensive safety training program for all military and civilian personnel based on DoWI 6055.01 requirements.
Ensure all personnel complete required safety training, including foundational, supervisory, and specific hazard topics. This includes, but is not limited to: Foundational: Risk Management Basic, Army Accident-Avoidance Course (as applicable), and Introduction to OSHA. Supervisory: Supervisor Safety Training (SST) to ensure leaders understand their responsibilities. Specific Hazards: Electrical Safety, Hazard Communication (HAZCOM), Office Ergonomics, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Emergency Action Plans, and Lockout/Tagout procedures.
Ensure all training is documented in the appropriate service-specific systems, such as the Army's ASMIS 2.0, the Navy's ESAMS, or the Air Force's Job Safety Training Outline (JSTO).
Develop and disseminate seasonal and command-wide safety campaigns to promote awareness.
Manage the command's safety awards program to recognize outstanding safety performance.
JCSE Airborne Program Oversight and Management: Will provide continuous, direct oversight of the JCSE Airborne Program as the JECC headquarters representative:
Act as the primary SME/advisor to JECC leadership on the status, health, and viability of the JCSE Airborne Program.
Recommend and develop projects and initiatives to maintain the long-term viability and relevance of the program.
Prepare and deliver recurring briefings and information papers to JECC leadership addressing ongoing issues, risk management strategies, and recommendations for program improvement. Risk analysis will be grounded in doctrinal principles from Joint Publication (JP) 3-18 and Field Manual (FM) 3-99.
Coordinate with outside agencies for staff assistance visits, inspections, and curriculum alignment. Key agencies include institutional skill centers such as the U.S. Army Quartermaster School (for rigging), the Advanced Airborne School, and relevant U.S. Air Force training wings (for loadmaster and Drop Zone Safety Officers [DZSOs] procedures).
Manage the command's airborne safety program by providing rigorous oversight of the JCSE's compliance with the investigation and reporting requirements of AR 59-4 "Joint Airdrop Inspection Records, Malfunction/Incident Investigations, and Activity Reporting."
Policy, Doctrine, and Readiness Validation: Shall advise JECC leadership and assist in validating the readiness and structure of the command's airborne assets:
Continually review and advise JECC leadership on updates to policy, practices, doctrines, and regulations from joint, Army, and Air Force sources that impact airborne operations and training.
Assist in the validation of the JECC JMD for Paid Parachutist Positions. This shall include conducting a formal workload analysis to determine and justify the required number of airborne billets based on operational tempo, training requirements, and currency mandates.
Assist the command in conducting inspections of the JCSE's Special Pay Program (Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay), ensuring compliance with DoW FMR and service-specific guidance for airborne pay.
Develop and recommend command-level policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airborne operations, training, and safety, ensuring alignment with joint, service, and multinational doctrine.
Assist JCSE in the developmental training and sustainment of JCSE's Jumpmasters, Safeties, and DZSOs. This is an oversight role, ensuring training programs are robust and that DZSO procedures are in strict accordance with DAFMAN 13-217.
Manage the command's airborne malfunction and incident reporting program in strict accordance with AR 59-4. This includes ensuring subordinate units have procedures for immediate actions, appointing a qualified malfunction officer, and submitting timely reports.
Serve as the command's primary technical advisor on all investigations into personnel or equipment airdrop malfunctions, providing analysis and recommendations to the investigating officer.
Analyze trends in airborne incidents and malfunctions across the AOR to identify systemic issues, providing periodic safety reports and risk mitigation recommendations.
Ensure Joint Airdrop Inspection (JAI) procedures are properly implemented during joint exercises and operations.
Review and provide feedback on exercise after-action reports (AARs) related to airborne operations, identifying lessons learned and recommending improvements.