Department of Defense

VX-23 “Salty Dogs” Welcome Zilberman as Newest Commander

VX-23 “Salty Dogs” Welcome Zilberman as Newest Commander

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, Patuxent River, MD.: Col. Jay Zarra turned over command of the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 “Salty Dogs” to Cmdr. Eric Zilberman in an airborne ceremony over Naval Air Station Patuxent River, June 12, where Zarra piloted an F-35B Lightning and Zilberman flew an F/A-18F Super...
Read More »

Marine Corps Squadron Awards High School Scholarships, Inspires STEM Careers in Naval Aviation

Marine Corps Squadron Awards High School Scholarships, Inspires STEM Careers in Naval Aviation

The Marine Corps Aviation Association, John Glenn Squadron (MCAA JGS) in Patuxent River recently recognized high school graduates in the Southern Maryland tri-county area who plan to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM)-based degrees with merit-based scholarships. For 2024-2025 school year, MCAA JGS scholarship Committee selected 12 exceptional high school seniors to receive...
Read More »

Upper Marlboro Native Defending America From Under The Sea

Upper Marlboro Native Defending America From Under The Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink, Navy Office of Community Outreach – KINGS BAY, GA. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin Morton, a native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Tennessee, homeported at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. As a submariner, Morton is part of a small...
Read More »

Maryland Attorney General Joins 21 Other States Opposing Trump’s Military Deployment in State of California

Maryland Attorney General Joins 21 Other States Opposing Trump’s Military Deployment in State of California

On June 12th, 2025, US District Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Donald Trump unlawfully federalized thousands of members of California’s National Guard and ordered the president to return control of the troops to the state and Governor Gavin Newsom. The Federal Judge stated “His actions were illegal – both exceeding the scope of...
Read More »

From La Plata to the Deep: FTSN Martin’s Journey Aboard USS Springfield

From La Plata to the Deep: FTSN Martin’s Journey Aboard USS Springfield

From Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 Public Affairs – NAVAL BASE GUAM – Before the ocean swallows the light and the hatch seals shut, every submariner carries one thing below the surface — their story. For Seaman Daniel Martin, a native of La Plata, Maryland, serving as a fire controlman, that story began in the...
Read More »

NAVAIR Commander Recognizes 13 Teams, Individuals Who ‘Changed The Game’ at Annual Commander’s Awards

NAVAIR Commander Recognizes 13 Teams, Individuals Who ‘Changed The Game’ at Annual Commander’s Awards

NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. Carl Chebi recognized individuals and teams in nine categories aligned directly to NAVAIR’s focus areas—speed of capability, affordability and availability—at the 25th annual NAVAIR Commander’s Awards held here June 4. Finalists were selected from 129 teams and individuals from across NAVAIR who exemplify the behaviors and collaborative approaches that will...
Read More »

NAS Patuxent River Gate 3 Transitions to Two-Lane Inbound Traffic for Morning Rush

NAS Patuxent River Gate 3 Transitions to Two-Lane Inbound Traffic for Morning Rush

TRAFFIC UPDATE: Naval Air Station Patuxent River will transition to two-lane inbound traffic at Gate 3 (Forest Park Road) for morning rush from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., beginning Monday, June 9th, 2025.
Read More »

U.S. Marine Corps Receives Final MQ-9A Reaper, Concluding Rapid Delivery Effort

U.S. Marine Corps Receives Final MQ-9A Reaper, Concluding Rapid Delivery Effort

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River,  MD – The U.S. Marine Corps received its final MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 Extended Range (ER) Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) Gray Butte flight operations facility in California in June 2025, marking the successful completion of a three-year acquisition campaign. With 18...
Read More »

Naval Air Station Patuxent River Announces Closure of Gate 1 on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025

Naval Air Station Patuxent River Announces Closure of Gate 1 on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025

Naval Air Station Patuxent River announced that Gate 1 will be closing for over 2 hours for barrier maintenance on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pax River’s Gate 3 will remain open until 11 a.m. June 3 to accommodate traffic. Delays will be expected throughout the area.
Read More »

New Unmanned Test System Accelerates UAS Development at NAWCAD

New Unmanned Test System Accelerates UAS Development at NAWCAD

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is boosting its testing capabilities with a new UAS experimentation system showcased recently at a training event at Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s Webster Outlying Field. Designed to accelerate unmanned aviation development, the Tethered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Experimentation Payload System (TULEPS) allows developers to test software...
Read More »

Waldorf Native Serves With The Next Generation of U.S. Naval Aviation Warfighters

Waldorf Native Serves With The Next Generation of U.S. Naval Aviation Warfighters

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tracey Bannister, Navy Office of Community Outreach. PENSACOLA, Fla. – Ensign Keirra Harvey, a native of Waldorf, Maryland, is serving in the U.S. Navy amongst sailors, Marines and guardsmen at Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) who are developing the skills needed to be a combat-ready aviation professional. Harvey is...
Read More »

Memorial Day: A Day to Remember the Fallen

Memorial Day: A Day to Remember the Fallen

Monday, May 26, 2025, is Memorial Day. This day is a national holiday, for remembering and honoring men and women, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Waterloo, New York, was declared the official birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966. The holiday had many origins,...
Read More »

35-Year-Old Male Airlifted to Trauma Center After Plane Crashes in Potomac River

35-Year-Old Male Airlifted to Trauma Center After Plane Crashes in Potomac River

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, at approximately 4:09 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services from Virginia and Maryland responded to the Potomac River in the area of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Virginia, for the reported downed aircraft with fire. Multiple 911 callers reported a plane crashed into the water...
Read More »

Maryland Loses AAA Bond Rating For First Time in Over 50 Years, Gov Moore Releases Statement Blaming Trump

Maryland Loses AAA Bond Rating For First Time in Over 50 Years, Gov Moore Releases Statement Blaming Trump

Maryland Loses AAA Bond Rating for first time in over 50 years, ending a historic run of fiscal stability that stretched back to 1973. Statement by the Maryland Freedom Caucus – “Governor Wes Moore’s attempt to shift blame for Maryland’s credit downgrade is as misleading as it is predictable. Democrats have controlled the Maryland...
Read More »

Annual Fleet Workshop Equips Warfighters with Training on Evolving Aircrew Systems

Annual Fleet Workshop Equips Warfighters with Training on Evolving Aircrew Systems

Military personnel from across the country gathered near NAS Patuxent River May 5-8 for an annual workshop aimed at strengthening fleet training on critical aircrew support systems, ensuring the safety of both aircrew and maintainers during flight missions. Hosted by the Naval Aircrew Systems (PMA-202) Fleet Air Introduction/Liaison of Survival Aircrew Flight Equipment (FAILSAFE)...
Read More »

U.S. Navy Restores T-10 Test Cell Facility at Patuxent River, Enhancing Fleet Readiness

U.S. Navy Restores T-10 Test Cell Facility at Patuxent River, Enhancing Fleet Readiness

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD: The Navy’s T-10 Test Cell Facility at Pax River is undergoing a significant revitalization that will enable engine testing in a noise-suppressed environment. Driven by a collaborative effort between the Common Aviation Support Equipment program office (PMA-260) and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), this initiative strengthens...
Read More »

Signed Maryland Legislations on April 22nd, 2025 – Governor Moore “Promotes Public Safety and Criminal Justice”

Signed Maryland Legislations on April 22nd, 2025 – Governor Moore “Promotes Public Safety and Criminal Justice”

Governor Wes Moore presided over the second bill signing ceremony of 2025, which included The Expungement Reform Act, a key piece of the Moore-Miller Administration’s legislative agenda. “The legislation signed strengthens the Moore-Miller Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to public safety while creating pathways to work, wages, and wealth for rehabilitated Marylanders.” “Our strategy to make...
Read More »

Plan Ahead, Prepare Early: Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1, 2025

Plan Ahead, Prepare Early: Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1, 2025

St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Emergency Services (DES) urges community members to be prepared for the next Atlantic hurricane season, which starts on June 1, 2025, and goes through November 30, 2025. While severe weather can happen outside of this timeframe, it is the most active for hurricane and tropical storm activity. In...
Read More »

Naval Aircrew Systems Program Office Welcomes New Leadership

Naval Aircrew Systems Program Office Welcomes New Leadership

The Naval Aircrew Systems program office (PMA-202) welcomed new leadership during a change of command and retirement ceremony April 17, 2025, at Pax River. Capt. Joseph Kamara assumed command of PMA-202 relieving Capt. Carey Castelein of his duties as program manager, who will retire from the Navy. Over his tenure, Castelein managed 13 acquisition...
Read More »

NAS Patuxent River to Participate in Navy Hurricane Preparedness/Disaster Response Exercise

NAS Patuxent River to Participate in Navy Hurricane Preparedness/Disaster Response Exercise

NAS Patuxent River will participate in an annual hurricane preparedness and recovery exercise April 21-May 2, 2025. HURRICANE EXERCISE/CITADEL GALE (HURREX/CG) 2025 is an annual hurricane preparedness/ disaster response and recovery exercise conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC). All Navy regions and installations on the eastern...
Read More »

Governor Moore Announces Additional Employment Support for Impacted Federal Workers

Governor Moore Announces Additional Employment Support for Impacted Federal Workers

Governor Wes Moore announced the launch of a new process to streamline hiring for four critical and hard-to-fill position types across the state government. The governor directed actions to streamline hiring to modernize state government and to support job-seeking federal workers impacted by federal layoffs and firings. Under the Maryland Department of Budget Management,...
Read More »

NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for April 17, 2025

NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for April 17, 2025

Communities surrounding the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Fort Mary Walker, Virginia are advised that nighttime noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place April 17, 2025 from 5:45 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. Night testing and training is essential for the precision and safety of our military personnel and the success of their...
Read More »

Commissioners of St. Mary’s County & NAS PAX Announce Joint Meeting April 29th, 2025

Commissioners of St. Mary’s County & NAS PAX Announce Joint Meeting April 29th, 2025

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC) and the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS PAX) will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the Frank Knox Building, located just outside of NAS PAX Gate 2 at 21866 Cedar Point Road, Patuxent River. “Our partnership...
Read More »

Defense Commissary Agency Announces Extension of Commissary Benefit to Military Civilian Employees

Defense Commissary Agency Announces Extension of Commissary Benefit to Military Civilian Employees

DeCA announces extension of pilot expansion of commissary benefit to military civilian employees The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) will extend the dates of the current pilot for Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees to shop at select commissary stores in the continental United States to Dec. 31. The DoD-approved pilot originally ran Dec. 5,...
Read More »

Governor Moore Signs Legislation to Strengthen Maryland’s Workforce

Governor Moore Signs Legislation to Strengthen Maryland’s Workforce

4/8/2025 – Governor Wes Moore presided over the first bill signing ceremony of 2025, which included bills under the Moore-Miller Administration’s legislative agenda to strengthen Maryland’s workforce. The legislation signed today strengthens the apprenticeship pipeline in Maryland, creates pathways to meaningful employment for Marylanders with disabilities, and helps to fast track license approval for...
Read More »