NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD: Vice Adm. John E. Dougherty IV, commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), has announced Steve Cricchi will take the role as deputy commander, NAVAIR, effective Feb. 26.
Cricchi replaces NAVAIR Deputy Commander Tom Rudowsky, who will officially retire March 2.
Cricchi transitions into the role after serving as the executive director of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), a position he has held since July 2021.
In his new role as deputy commander, the senior civilian reporting directly to the commander, Cricchi will serve as the principal authority and adviser on corporate planning and management, strategic direction, resource management and program support for the delivery and sustainment of integrated warfighting capability. NAVAIR’s workforce of more than 30,000 military and civilian personnel across eight primary sites supports naval aviation and the Program Executive Offices in research and development, engineering, test and evaluation, acquisition, in-service support, and the repair and modification of aircraft, weapons and related systems.
“Throughout his career, Steve has been a trusted executive leader across engineering, cyber warfare, business operations, workforce management and digital modernization,” Dougherty said. “He is widely respected for his focus on accountability, technical rigor and mission outcomes, and for building high-performing teams that deliver results at scale.
“I am confident Steve will play an instrumental role as deputy commander by advancing NAVAIR’s mission, strengthening enterprise integration and accelerating the decisions and behaviors that deliver capability, readiness and trust to the fleet.”
“I’m excited to partner with Adm. Dougherty,” Cricchi said. “He and I are excellent partners together … Being able to shape how [NAVAIR] is going to operate in support of these fleet outcomes is really what is bringing me to work every day in this job. I’m excited for what NAVAIR is going to bring to warfighting outcomes.”
As NAWCAD’s executive director, Cricchi provided comprehensive leadership to more than 10,000 civilian and military personnel across four geographic sites. He oversaw research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E); acquisition; and sustainment products that deliver critical capability for naval aviation, other services and allied partners. He also supplied personnel and infrastructure support to Naval Aviation Program Executive Officers, advancing warfighting capabilities through disciplined program execution across all phases of the acquisition lifecycle.
Cricchi accelerated delivery of innovative capability to the Fleet by using NAWCAD’s technical expertise, business flexibility and strong industry partnerships. His portfolio included operations, sustainment and modernization of more than 400 laboratories and facilities, as well as oversight of more than 200 manned and unmanned RDT&E aircraft. He was responsible for business and financial performance across an annual revenue exceeding $5 billion.
From September 2019 to July 2021, Cricchi served as director of NAVAIR’s Engineering & Cyber Warfare Group. In that role, he provided engineering planning, policy, standards and oversight for science and technology, systems acquisition, and product support for all naval aviation aircraft, weapons and support systems. He also led enterprise-wide digital and information technology efforts, including airworthiness, CyberSafe, cybersecurity and anti-tamper programs, cost and schedule analysis, and mission engineering and analysis.
From June 2015 to August 2019, Cricchi served as NAVAIR’s assistant commander for Corporate Operations and Total Force. He led all command business operations, including administration, total force management, military and civilian human resources, information technology, security, public affairs, financial management and infrastructure operations.
Between November 2005 and May 2015, he served as director of Integrated Systems Evaluation, Experimentation and Test at NAVAIR. He led more than 3,000 flight test engineers, military test pilots and project officers, aircraft maintainers, and acquisition professionals conducting flight tests and experimentation. His responsibilities included oversight of two test air wings with approximately 200 aircraft and the United States Naval Test Pilot School.
Cricchi entered the Senior Executive Service in March 2005 and was appointed the first director for Flight Test Engineering, serving as the chief flight test engineer for naval aviation. Earlier in his career, he held several key technical and leadership positions, including deputy director for the Test and Evaluation Engineering Department, chief test engineer for the Strike Aircraft Test Squadron (VX-23), T-45 Project and Platform Coordinator and flight test engineer on the T-45A Goshawk, AV-8B and T/AV-8B Harrier II aircraft.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia in 1985 and is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School (Class of ’97).
