Department of Defense

NAVAIR Fellows Program Inducts 2017 Class

NAVAIR Fellows Program Inducts 2017 Class

Forty leading scientists and engineers were inducted into the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Fellows program as new associate fellows during Sept. 14 ceremonies here and in Point Mugu, California.. Established in 2000, the Fellows Program has recognized 473 NAVAIR engineers and scientists for their significant technical contributions to naval aviation, while also encouraging...
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Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s Noise Advisory’s for Sep. 14th – 22nd

Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s Noise Advisory’s for Sep. 14th – 22nd

Communities surrounding the naval air station are advised that noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place September 15- 22, 2017 between the hours of 08:00 AM – 10:00AM. Pilots at NAS PAX will be conducting Field Carrier Landing Practices (FCLPs). FCLPs are simulated carrier landings conducted to prepare the pilot to land safely...
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NAVAIR Leadership Development Program welcomes 80 Future Leaders

NAVAIR Leadership Development Program welcomes 80 Future Leaders

The tradition of NAVAIR’s Leadership Development Program (NLDP) is alive and well as the 2017 cohort begins their journey to expand their organizational knowledge and sharpen their business and leadership skills. The newest cohort, comprised of 80 civilians and military members, has already taken part in the first of five classes: leadership orientation and...
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Hammond Assumes Command of NAS Patuxent River

Hammond Assumes Command of NAS Patuxent River

Capt. Jason Hammond assumed command of Naval Air Station Patuxent River in a change of command ceremony Aug. 31 at the installation’s Hangar 110. Hammond’s role as NAS Patuxent River commanding officer follows his previous position as the base executive officer (XO). “The experience of being Pax River’s XO has been extremely rewarding,” said...
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First Production Contract Awarded for CH-53K King Stallion

First Production Contract Awarded for CH-53K King Stallion

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded a sole source, Fixed Price Incentive Firm, Firm Fixed Price, Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contract  to Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin company, for the Lot 1 Low Rate Initial Production of the CH-53K King Stallion, valued at $303,974,406. The contract action provides the funds for two CH-53K helicopters along with engineering...
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‘Light of Day’ event kicks off Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

‘Light of Day’ event kicks off Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Staring down at her weapon while on her fourth deployment to Afghanistan, Tracy Hurtt was delirious. “Pick me up,” she heard the weapon say. Hurtt, a retired Army sergeant first class and now a NAVAIR civilian, was battling bronchitis from the poor air quality and then made the unfortunate discovery, via social media, her...
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HX-21 earns Secretary of the Navy 2016 Aviation Safety Award

HX-21 earns Secretary of the Navy 2016 Aviation Safety Award

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO ONE (HX-21) was presented the 2016 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Safety Excellence Award for Aviation  during a ceremony at the Navy Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. in June. The acting Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Sean Stackley, commended HX-21 on their commitment to safety excellence, to...
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Waldorf Native Helps Keep One of the Navy’s Newest, Most Advanced Aircraft Flying

Waldorf Native Helps Keep One of the Navy’s Newest, Most Advanced Aircraft Flying

A 2003 Thomas Stone High School graduate and Waldorf, Maryland native is serving with a U.S. Navy electronic attack squadron that flies one of the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced aircraft, the EA-18G Growler. Petty Officer 2nd Class Diane Sandoval is a legalman with the Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the command...
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St. Mary’s County Native Serves with the U.S. Navy Half a World Away in Japan

St. Mary’s County Native Serves with the U.S. Navy Half a World Away in Japan

A Great Mills High School graduate and St. Mary’s County, Maryland native is serving in the U.S. Navy with the forward deployed unit, Naval Beach Unit 7. Seaman Joshua Hall is operating forward in Sasebo, Japan. A Navy seaman performs many essential functions to run a ship, including serving as a helmsman and lookout,...
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Tomahawk Production Team Delivers 4,000th Missile

Tomahawk Production Team Delivers 4,000th Missile

The U.S. Navy and Tomahawk manufacturer Raytheon Missile Systems Company celebrated the  delivery of the 4,000th Block IV cruise missile to the fleet in August. “Tomahawk is known as the ‘nation’s weapon of choice’ and delivery of 4,000 missiles is significant,” said Capt. Mark Johnson, Tomahawk Weapons System program manager. “Each member of the Tomahawk...
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Summer Internship Program Immerses Students in Naval Research, Engineering, Innovation

Summer Internship Program Immerses Students in Naval Research, Engineering, Innovation

“Young minds find innovation first,” said Dr. James Sheehy, Naval Aviation Enterprise chief technology officer, as he kicked off the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) Presentation Days here July 26 and 27. The presentations were the culmination of the summer internship work of 27 undergraduate and graduate students and Ph.D. candidates who, under...
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Hidden Cameras Found Under Women’s Desks at NAVAIR

Hidden Cameras Found Under Women’s Desks at NAVAIR

According to documents filed in Maryland District Court, Daniel A, Fasci, 56, of Great Mills admitted to placing video cameras under the desks of multiple females at buildings on the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. One document states “Daniel Fasci has been using video surveillance under my desk pointed towards my private areas at...
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Maryland Man Charged With Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS And Attempted Murder

Maryland Man Charged With Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS And Attempted Murder

A federal grand jury has charged Nelash Das, age 25, a citizen of Bangladesh previously residing in Landover Hills, Maryland, with attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization; attempting to murder a federal employee; and using and carrying a firearm during and...
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Aircraft Division Scientists, Engineers Win Top Department of the Navy Awards

Aircraft Division Scientists, Engineers Win Top Department of the Navy Awards

Three of Aircraft Division’s best scientists and engineers earned the Department of the Navy’s 2016 Assistant Secretary of Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Awards. Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Allison Stiller presented the awards during a recent...
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Names and Photos Released of 15 Marines, and Sailor Killed in Military Plane Crash

Names and Photos Released of 15 Marines, and Sailor Killed in Military Plane Crash

The Marine Forces Reserve released the identities and photographs Friday of the 15 Marines and sailor killed in a military plane crash in Mississippi. “It is with great regret that the Marine Corps announces the names of those who perished in the KC-130T Hercules crash in Mississippi on July 10,” they wrote. Seven of...
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V-22 Joint Program Office Welcomes New Program Manager

V-22 Joint Program Office Welcomes New Program Manager

Marine Corps Col. Matthew Kelly took command of the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) July 5 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Kelly took over the leadership responsibilities for the PMA-275 from Marine Corps Col. Dan Robinson, who has served as the program manager since 2013. Kelly, who previously served as the MV-22 military lead for...
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Patuxent River Welcomes CH-53K to Flight Line

Patuxent River Welcomes CH-53K to Flight Line

The first CH-53K King Stallion to touch down at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland arrived June 30. Relocated from Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, it is the first of seven aircraft expected to arrive over the next 12 months. At NAS Patuxent River, the helicopter will undergo various flight quality, ground...
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John Glenn scholarship winners Awarded $30,000

John Glenn scholarship winners Awarded $30,000

During a June 13 ceremony, seven local high school graduates received a total of $30,000 from the John Glenn Squadron Scholarship Program to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “For 11 years, the John Glenn Squadron Scholarship Program has given out close to $400,000 to 91 men and women from [St. Mary’s,...
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NAVAIR Accepts Russell Naval Aviation Flight Safety Award

NAVAIR Accepts Russell Naval Aviation Flight Safety Award

NAVAIR Assistant Commander for Corporate Operations and Total Force Stephen Cricchi accepted the 2016 Adm. James S. Russell Naval Aviation Flight Safety Award June 15 during a modest conference room ceremony. The award, which Cricchi accepted on behalf of NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. Paul Grosklags, was one of two top naval aviation safety awards...
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McDowell assumes command of Air Combat Electronics program office

McDowell assumes command of Air Combat Electronics program office

Navy Capt. Christopher McDowell, the former deputy program manager for the Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209), assumed the role of program manager during a May 25 change of command ceremony at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. As PMA-209’s program manager, McDowell will be responsible for the Navy’s development, integration and cradle-to-grave sustainment for common...
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Navy Summit Connects Vets, Wounded Warriors with Employers

Navy Summit Connects Vets, Wounded Warriors with Employers

As part of an ongoing commitment to wounded, ill or injured service members, the Navy hosted its 7th Annual Veteran and Wounded Warrior Hiring and Support Summit in Seattle, Washington, May 23-24. The two-day event gathered panelists, moderators and experts to share resources and information with employers and invited veterans and wounded warriors to...
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La Plata Native Honored with Dr. George W. Patterson Award for Outstanding Accomplishment

La Plata Native Honored with Dr. George W. Patterson Award for Outstanding Accomplishment

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD) recognized top individuals and teams who contributed substantially to the command’s mission success.  The annual Honorary Awards ceremony was conducted recently at Indian Head, Maryland. Mr. John Cox, a Virginia Tech graduate, and 13-year employee of NSWC IHEDOTD with the Systems...
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C-130T Hercules Upgrades Reduce Maintenance, Improve Reliability

C-130T Hercules Upgrades Reduce Maintenance, Improve Reliability

It’s true.  Good things really do come in small packages. This was recently proven out by the Tactical Airlift Program Office (PMA-207) C-130T Electronic Propeller Control System and Engine Instrument Display System (EPCS/EIDS) team. The three person EPCS/EIDS team’s actions resulted in installations of the systems in 19 KC-130 aircraft in record time —...
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NAVAIR Testers Receive Annual Department of the Navy Awards

NAVAIR Testers Receive Annual Department of the Navy Awards

The Department of the Navy (DON) presented two of Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR) four 2016 DON Test and Evaluation (T&E) Awards May 24 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland. For overcoming several major technical obstacles during its first year of flight test, the CH-53K King Stallion Integrated Test Team received the DON...
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Raytheon Named The Patuxent Partnership’s Member of the Year

Raytheon Named The Patuxent Partnership’s Member of the Year

The Patuxent Partnership (TPP) has named Raytheon as the 2016 Member of the Year. The announcement was made at TPP’s May 23rd Annual Dinner to a sold out crowd of 300 members and guests. “The Patuxent Partnership is fortunate that its member companies are active and engaged in our community. Yet there are companies that...
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