Department of Defense

Indiana Man Charged After Sending Threats Through Social Media Connected to United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland

Indiana Man Charged After Sending Threats Through Social Media Connected to United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland

UPDATE 9/16/2025: Federal law enforcement arrested Jackson Fleming, 23, of Chesterton, Indiana, on suspicion of sending an online threat through a social media application connected to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on September 11, 2025. A magistrate judge approved a complaint charging Fleming with one count of transmitting a threat in...
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Southern Maryland NAWCAD WOLF Division Develops New Ground Communication Capability for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Southern Maryland NAWCAD WOLF Division Develops New Ground Communication Capability for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Webster Outlying Field (NAWCAD WOLF) Special Communication Mission Solutions (SCMS) division collaborated with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels to quickly develop and deliver a new ground communication system to the squadron at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, July 24, 2025. Due to its age, the legacy...
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Waldorf Felon Sentenced to 16-Years for Murdering His Girlfriend’s Husband

Waldorf Felon Sentenced to 16-Years for Murdering His Girlfriend’s Husband

Keyon Slaughter, 28, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the December 2022 murder of Dana Bailey, Jr., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Slaughter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on June 20, 2025. Slaughter was sentenced on September 12, 2025, by the Honorable Danya Dayson. In addition...
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Developing The Workforce! Navy Selects Four NAWCAD WOLF Engineers for Leadership Program

Developing The Workforce! Navy Selects Four NAWCAD WOLF Engineers for Leadership Program

The Navy recently selected four members of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Webster Outlying Field (NAWCAD WOLF) workforce for one of its flagship leadership development plans, the Journey Leadership Development Program (JLDP). “Developing the next generation of leaders is one of the most important NAWCAD WOLF strategic imperatives,” said NAWCAD WOLF...
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U.S. Navy VX-31 Delivers Historic Harriers to West Coast Museums

U.S. Navy VX-31 Delivers Historic Harriers to West Coast Museums

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Maryland: In a powerful tribute to Marine Corps aviation history, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 delivered two AV-8B Harrier II+ aircraft to aviation museums on the West Coast, in July and August, marking the end of their operational service and the beginning of their legacy as...
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Joint Base Andrews Air Show – Saturday and Sunday September 13th, and 14th, 2025

Joint Base Andrews Air Show – Saturday and Sunday September 13th, and 14th, 2025

The 2025 Joint Base Andrews Air Show will open its gates on Saturday, September 13, and Sunday, September 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The event is free to attend, requires no tickets, and is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors from across the National Capital Region. The theme of...
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U.S. Navy Awards $554 Million Contract to (ATAC) Airborne Tactical Advantage Company

U.S. Navy Awards $554 Million Contract to (ATAC) Airborne Tactical Advantage Company

The U.S. Navy awarded a $554 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) in late July to provide naval aviators with training support services under the Fleet Fighter Jet Services. “The Fighter Jet Services contract represents a critical investment in the readiness and capability of our fleet air training and...
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Blue Angels to Headline Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Show – June 2026

Blue Angels to Headline Naval Air Station Patuxent River Air Show – June 2026

The Blue Angels, the United States Navy’s premier flight demonstration team, known worldwide for drawing crowds of tens-of-thousands to see first-hand their precision and thrilling aerial maneuvers, are scheduled to perform at the NAS Patuxent River Air Show June 20-21, 2026. The event will be held at NAS Patuxent River and is free and...
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Rear Adm. John Lemmon Retires After 37 Years of Distinguished Service To The U.S. Navy

Rear Adm. John Lemmon Retires After 37 Years of Distinguished Service To The U.S. Navy

Hundreds gathered in Hangar 306 last week to celebrate Rear Adm. John Lemmon’s retirement Aug. 22, marking the culmination of a remarkable 37-year career that advanced naval aviation and left an enduring impact on the Navy and the nation. From modernizing iconic aircraft to leading critical overseas operations, Lemmon’s career has been defined by...
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CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Completes Transport of F-35B from NAS Patuxent River to South Carolina

CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Completes Transport of F-35B from NAS Patuxent River to South Carolina

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: A CH-53K heavy lift helicopter transported an inoperable F-35B Lightning II airframe from Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina on Aug. 27. The King Stallion helicopter was flown by a Marine aircrew from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron...
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Lusby Native Awarded Navy’s Highest Non-Combat Medal for Saving Sailor After Training Accident in California

Lusby Native Awarded Navy’s Highest Non-Combat Medal for Saving Sailor After Training Accident in California

Utilitiesman 1st Class Steven Schumacher, from Lusby, Maryland, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal at the Silver Strand Training Complex in San Diego, on June 27th, 2025. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the highest non-combat decoration awarded by the Department of the Navy, recognizing acts of heroism that exemplify unwavering...
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New Crewed-Uncrewed Tech Put To The Test at NAWCAD’s 2025 Thunderdome

New Crewed-Uncrewed Tech Put To The Test at NAWCAD’s 2025 Thunderdome

Thunderdome, an annual event hosted by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (UX) 24 and NAWCAD’s Webster Outlying Field, brought together government and industry leaders to demonstrate and evaluate emerging Counter Uncrewed Systems (C-UxS) technologies July 21-24 in St. Inigoes, Maryland. This experimentation exercise provided participants the opportunity to work with multiple uncrewed systems and...
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U.S. Navy Names New TACAMO Aircraft the E-130J Phoenix II

U.S. Navy Names New TACAMO Aircraft the E-130J Phoenix II

The U.S. Navy’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) and Strategic Communications Wing 1 (SCW-1) announced the official popular name for the Navy’s new Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission aircraft: E-130J Phoenix II. In October 2024, the placeholder name E-XX was officially designated as E-130J. As of today, the...
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U.S Navy and Marines Demo Range of Long Range UAS for Future Operations

U.S Navy and Marines Demo Range of Long Range UAS for Future Operations

The Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PMA-263) program team put Long Range Tactical (LRT) systems through their paces during a two-week technical demonstration in Chaptico, Maryland in mid-July. Five vendors attended the event to help inform the Marine Corps of the functions and capabilities available on the commercial market for...
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U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 and EA-18G Aircraft Fleet Surpass 12 Million Flight Hours

U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 and EA-18G Aircraft Fleet Surpass 12 Million Flight Hours

The U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft fleet has surpassed 12 million flight hours, marking an important milestone for one of the most enduring families of aircraft in modern naval aviation. This achievement underscores the capability, reliability and availability of these aircraft, which have served as the backbone of the U.S. Navy and Marine...
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Vice Adm. John “Doc” Dougherty, IV Assumes Command of Naval Air Systems Command

Vice Adm. John “Doc” Dougherty, IV Assumes Command of Naval Air Systems Command

Vice Adm. John “Doc” Dougherty, IV assumed command of the Naval Air Systems Command Aug. 1. Dougherty relieved Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, who retired after 38 years of distinguished naval service. Under Chebi’s leadership, NAVAIR achieved and sustained the highest readiness levels in the history of naval aviation, identified over $3 billion in savings...
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Navy Demonstrates Multi-Day Non-Stop Solar UAS Flight

Navy Demonstrates Multi-Day Non-Stop Solar UAS Flight

The Navy, in partnership with Skydweller Aero, recently achieved continuous solar-powered unmanned flight during a nonstop three-day test from Stennis, Mississippi. Led by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), the test of Skydweller UAS marks a significant advancement in both long-endurance solar-powered UAS technology and its potential to enhance maritime intelligence, surveillance,...
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Lollipop Theft Triggers Burglary Arrest for Former Employee at Defense Contractor’s Office in Lexington Park

Lollipop Theft Triggers Burglary Arrest for Former Employee at Defense Contractor’s Office in Lexington Park

Vignesh Sureshwaran, 36, of Great Mills, has been charged with second-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, and theft under $100 following an alleged unauthorized entry into a private office suite in Lexington Park, according to charging documents filed in the District Court for St. Mary’s County. The incident occurred on the evening of July 17, 2025,...
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NAWCAD WOLF’s O’Brien wins Department of the Navy Financial Management Award

NAWCAD WOLF’s O’Brien wins Department of the Navy Financial Management Award

Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division at Webster Outlying Field’s (NAWCAD WOLF) Supervisory Financial Analyst Kari O’Brien was recognized as a winner of the Department of the Navy’s annual Financial Management awards at a ceremony held at the Pentagon June 18. This award recognizes the high quality and creativity of the financial management workforce...
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MQ-4C Triton Program Welcomes New Leadership

MQ-4C Triton Program Welcomes New Leadership

The Navy’s Persistent Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) program office (PMA-262) held a change of command ceremony July 10 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, where Capt. Patrick Murphy relieved Capt. Josh Guerre, who will retire after 25 years of honorable service. NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. Carl Chebi delivered remarks during the ceremony, highlighting Guerre’s...
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PMA-265 Employee Tess Butner, Earns Navy Award for Audit Excellence

PMA-265 Employee Tess Butner, Earns Navy Award for Audit Excellence

The lead business financial manager (BFM) for the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) received the 2024 Department of the Navy annual Financial Management Contribution to Business Processes and Internal Controls individual award during a ceremony June 18 at the Pentagon for her critical work resolving a material weakness flagged by Navy auditors. Tess...
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Naval Air Station Patuxent River Gate Operation Schedules- July 2nd to July 7th, 2025

Naval Air Station Patuxent River Gate Operation Schedules- July 2nd to July 7th, 2025

Naval Air Station Patuxent River has announced that Gate 1 will be closed today, Wednesday, July 2 from 1 p.m., to 2:45 p.m. for unscheduled maintenance. Drivers are advised to use Gate 2 for inbound and outbound traffic during that time. NAS Patuxent River July 4 Holiday Gate Hours July 3: Gates 1 and...
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Navy Successfully Demonstrates Swarm Mission Planning Tech

Navy Successfully Demonstrates Swarm Mission Planning Tech

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) successfully demonstrated innovative mission planning software for swarms and other configurations of unmanned air, surface, and underwater systems at its headquarters. The new Optimized Cross Domain Swarm Sensing (OCDSS) software program helps the Navy plan missions using groups of unmanned aircraft. By running thousands of computer...
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Laurel Native Serving Aboard USNS Comfort Supports Continuing Promise 2025

Laurel Native Serving Aboard USNS Comfort Supports Continuing Promise 2025

Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel Olaitan, a native of Laurel, Maryland, with hometown ties to Lagos, Nigeria, is deployed aboard the U.S. Navy hospital ship, USNS Comfort, supporting Continuing Promise 2025. Continuing Promise 2025 is an exercise focused on humanitarian assistance, medical readiness, and goodwill with six nations in the Caribbean, Central America and...
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REMINDER! Naval Air Station Patuxent River Performing 100% ID Checks

REMINDER! Naval Air Station Patuxent River Performing 100% ID Checks

NAS Patuxent River began  conducting 100% ID checks at all gates at 4:00 p.m., on Friday, June 13, 2025 until further notice. Personnel that are authorized to escort individuals will require that their guests/vehicle passengers have a valid ID to enter the installation (driver’s license, Real ID, etc.). More information about NAS Patuxent River’s...
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