Maintenance is old business at DoD

Iraqi insurgents represent the U.S. Department of Defense's main concerns at the moment, but an aging maintenance work force is among the concerns on its flanks.

An aging work force tops the list of challenges ahead for maintenance units in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), according to Robert Mason, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Maintenance Policy, Programs & Resources.

Mason chaired the Department of Defense Maintenance Symposium & Exhibition held in Philadelphia. Administered by SAE, the annual event is the place where uniformed and civilian officials in charge of various aspects of military maintenance gather to share experiences, discuss the state of the art, recognize units that have distinguished themselves, and look toward the future.