Department of Defense

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Employee Receives Top Civilian Service Award

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Employee Receives Top Civilian Service Award

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) Chief Learning Officer Stuart White was recently honored with a Marine Corps Commendation for Meritorious Civilian Service for his outstanding support to the fleet. White received the award for demonstrating continued excellence as Deputy Director, Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group (MCTOG), Marine Air Ground...
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Pax River Gates 2 and 3, Pass and ID Parking Lot Closed for Repairs Beginning Thursday, November 11, 2021

Pax River Gates 2 and 3, Pass and ID Parking Lot Closed for Repairs Beginning Thursday, November 11, 2021

NAS Patuxent River is scheduled to close NAS Patuxent River Gates 2 and 3 from Thursday, Nov. 11 to Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021 for minor construction to the road surfaces at those gates. Gates 2 and 3 are scheduled to reopen for normal traffic beginning Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. The NAS Patuxent River Gate...
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United States Naval Intelligence Software Engineer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances

United States Naval Intelligence Software Engineer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances

Justin Ryan Best, age 46, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and...
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New Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology Building Opens in St. Mary’s County

New Southern Maryland Autonomous Research and Technology Building Opens in St. Mary’s County

A major new academic and research building opened by the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland located at Airport Road in California, will emphasize autonomous systems and robotics innovation in concert with faculty and staff from the University of Maryland. State of Maryland leaders joined University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay A....
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St. Mary’s County Man Wins $150,000 Powerball

St. Mary’s County Man Wins $150,000 Powerball

Eric Brown is a faithful Powerball player. He doesn’t care if the jackpot is $40 million or $600 million – he always buys a month’s worth of Powerball. This time, his favorite numbers proved very lucky for the St. Mary’s County resident. Although he didn’t bring home $570 million jackpot on September 29th, he...
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St. Mary’s County Government Awarded $398,118 by the Defense Community Infrastructure Program

St. Mary’s County Government Awarded $398,118 by the Defense Community Infrastructure Program

The Department of Defense announced that they have selected the St. Mary’s County Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) application as one of only thirteen grant awards for the country. St. Mary’s County’s Departments of Economic Development and Public Works and Transportation collaborated with the Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS PAX) to submit the...
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U.S. Navy Release Identities of Five Sailors Killed in Helicopter Crash in California

U.S. Navy Release Identities of Five Sailors Killed in Helicopter Crash in California

U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs SAN DIEGO – On Sunday, September 5, 2021, the U.S. Navy released the names of the five Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 crew members who died on August 31, 2021, when their helicopter crashed into the sea approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of San Diego, CA....
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Northrop Grumman New Optionally Manned Firebird Aircraft Makes Stop in St. Mary’s County

Northrop Grumman New Optionally Manned Firebird Aircraft Makes Stop in St. Mary’s County

When Northrop Grumman showcased its new, optionally manned Firebird aircraft by flying it to locations across the United States, the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport—home to the University of Maryland (UMD) UAS Test Site as well as TechPort, an incubator launched by UMD—was one of five stops chosen. The selection highlights Southern Maryland’s growing role as...
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VIDEO: Governor Hogan Announces Maryland “Stands Ready and Willing” to Receive More Afghan Interpreters

VIDEO: Governor Hogan Announces Maryland “Stands Ready and Willing” to Receive More Afghan Interpreters

‘Operation Allies Refuge’ Provides Special Immigrant Visas to Afghan Nationals Who Contributed to U.S. Efforts Maryland Ranks Fourth In The Nation For Special Immigrant Visa Refugees Will Receive At Least 180 More Afghan Nationals In The Coming Weeks Governor Larry Hogan announced the State of Maryland is committed to resettling more Afghan interpreters who have...
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Former Bryans Road Man Sentenced in Maryland to Federal Prison for Supplying Forged Military Discharge Certificates to Individuals Applying for Military Waivers to Obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses

Former Bryans Road Man Sentenced in Maryland to Federal Prison for Supplying Forged Military Discharge Certificates to Individuals Applying for Military Waivers to Obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis today sentenced Philip Mungin, age 58, formerly of Bryans Road, Maryland and currently residing in Mira Loma, California, to three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for forgery of a military discharge certificate and for identity theft, in connection with a scheme in which...
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U.S. Homeland Security Warns of Heightened Threat of Violence and Terrorism

U.S. Homeland Security Warns of Heightened Threat of Violence and Terrorism

Issued:  August 13, 2021, 2:00 p.m. Expires:  November 11, 2021, 2:00 p.m. The Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States. The Homeland continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment leading up to and following the...
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NAS Pax River Requires Masks for All Following CDC, DoD Guidelines

NAS Pax River Requires Masks for All Following CDC, DoD Guidelines

NAS Patuxent River leadership announced July 29 the requirement for all on the installation to wear face masks while in buildings on base and government vehicles regardless of vaccination status effective immediately per the Department of Defense’s “Updated Mask Guidance for all DoD Installations and Other Facilities” dated July 28. The move follows the...
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NAS Patuxent River Transitions Back to Health Protection Condition Bravo Beginning July 28

NAS Patuxent River Transitions Back to Health Protection Condition Bravo Beginning July 28

NAS Patuxent River transitioned from Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Alpha to HPCON Bravo as of 5 p.m. July 28. NAS Patuxent River joins other installations within Naval District Washington to shift back to HPCON Bravo as a result of rising COVID cases. HPCONs are protocols for public health emergencies, such as a pandemic. Commanders...
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United States Naval Test Pilot School Welcomes 50th Commander

United States Naval Test Pilot School Welcomes 50th Commander

Cmdr. Jeremy “Silas” DeBons took command of United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) from Lt. Col. Rory “Pikey” Feely during an airborne change of command ceremony at Pax River, July 15, 2021. Col. Richard E. Marigliano, Commodore of Naval Test Wing Atlantic, presided over the ceremony. “USNTPS is the foundation of all we...
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Navy Names New Executive Director of Aviation Warfare Center at its Pax River Headquarters

Navy Names New Executive Director of Aviation Warfare Center at its Pax River Headquarters

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) welcomed Stephen E. Cricchi as the new civilian executive director at its Pax River headquarters, July 14. “Our warfare centers ensure our Navy and Marine Corps aviators remain equipped with the world’s most technically advanced and lethal capability,” said NAWCAD Commander Rear Adm. John S. Lemmon....
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NAS Patuxent River UAS Airspace Coordinators Collaborate with Local Archaeologists in St. Mary’s City

NAS Patuxent River UAS Airspace Coordinators Collaborate with Local Archaeologists in St. Mary’s City

Although the discovery of St. Mary’s Fort in Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC) was made using technology not involving an unmanned aerial system (UAS), a drone was part of the HSMC researchers’ archaeological toolkit, and that meant seeking approval to fly from the NAS Patuxent River UAS Airspace Coordinator. In 2018, Director of Research...
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NAS Patuxent River Announces Independence Day Weekend Gate Hours

NAS Patuxent River Announces Independence Day Weekend Gate Hours

NAS Patuxent River’s gates will operate under the following hours from Friday July 2 to Monday July 5: NAS Pax River Gate 1 will be open NAS Pax River Gates 2 and 3 are CLOSED from Friday, July 2 to Monday, July 5 NRC Solomons Main Gate is Open Webster Outlying Field Main Gate...
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Nine Additional CH-53K™ King Stallion™ Helicopters Under Contract

Nine Additional CH-53K™ King Stallion™ Helicopters Under Contract

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD. – A contract to build nine CH-53K™ King Stallion™ helicopters with an additional contract option for nine more aircraft was awarded to Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company on June 25, 2021. The Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Lot 5 contract will deliver nine aircraft...
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Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Receives Milestone C Approval

Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Receives Milestone C Approval

The Navy’s Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) program received Milestone C approval from Frederick J. Stefany, acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition on June 28, 2021. This decision gives NGJ-MB the green light to enter the Production and Deployment phase and proceed with Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). “This...
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NAS Patuxent River Updates Health Protection Condition Alpha, Expands Base Access and Programs

NAS Patuxent River Updates Health Protection Condition Alpha, Expands Base Access and Programs

Naval Air Station announced June 25 that the installation is now in Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Alpha. Commanders and public health personnel use HPCON levels to guide specific actions personnel can take in response to a health threat. While it’s always important to prevent the spread of germs, there are additional steps you can...
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Off-Duty Navy Fire Inspector Pulls Motorist From Burning Vehicle

Off-Duty Navy Fire Inspector Pulls Motorist From Burning Vehicle

Naval District Washington (NDW) Fire Inspector Karen Montgomery, assigned to Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP), had just passed through a construction zone June 16 on Chicamuxen Rd. on her way toward Nanjemoy when she noticed an accident along a rough patch of pavement: a SUV was off the road and had impacted a...
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Pax River Museum Obtains Retired Blue Angel Aircraft

Pax River Museum Obtains Retired Blue Angel Aircraft

After months of preparations and discussions with the navy, the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is thrilled to announce the addition of a Blue Angel aircraft to the flight line. On Thursday, June 10th, the FA-18B took its final flight from Jacksonville, Florida and arrived at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Once proper...
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St. Mary’s County Commissioners Commemorate Flag Day

St. Mary’s County Commissioners Commemorate Flag Day

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County recognized Flag Day, Monday, June 14, with a patriotic event on the grounds of the governmental center in Leonardtown. The Flag Day ceremony began with a Pass in Review showcasing color guards from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the Civil Air Patrol...
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Blue Angel #7 Makes Final Flight to NAS Patuxent River, Will Be Placed at Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Coming Soon!

Blue Angel #7 Makes Final Flight to NAS Patuxent River, Will Be Placed at Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Coming Soon!

Today in 1946 the Blue Angels performed their first public flight demonstration from their first training base and team headquarters at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida, on June 15, and June 16, 1946, with three F6F-5 Hellcats (number 1 – 3). They were specially modified to reduce weight and painted with the iconic...
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Naval Aviation Bridges Medicine & Engineering to Advance Aerospace Tech

Naval Aviation Bridges Medicine & Engineering to Advance Aerospace Tech

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is advancing its human systems technology by combining best practices from the medical and engineering communities. The warfare center recently stood up the Aeromedical Monitoring and Analysis branch comprised of licensed medical military officers bridging their perspective with engineering disciplines to improve operational capabilities like night...
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