Department of Defense

Next Generation Jammer Wins Top Navy Aircraft System Improvement Award

Next Generation Jammer Wins Top Navy Aircraft System Improvement Award

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD: The Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB) team recently won the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Edward H. Heinemann Award for implementing a critical design change to the NGJ-MB pod by removing the Aft Pivot Assembly (APA) from the pod design, saving millions of dollars and hundreds of...
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Memorial Day: A Day to Remember the Fallen

Memorial Day: A Day to Remember the Fallen

Monday, May 27, 2024, 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,...
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Command Employees Recognized at NSWC Indian Head Division Honorary Awards Ceremony

Command Employees Recognized at NSWC Indian Head Division Honorary Awards Ceremony

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) recognized individuals and teams who made significant contributions to the command’s mission during the annual Honorary Awards ceremony hosted at College of Southern Maryland’s Velocity Center in Indian Head, Maryland, May 14. “This is a day to take the time to recognize how far you’ve...
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Navy’s Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) Passes Key Milestone: Completes Gate 2 R3B

Navy’s Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) Passes Key Milestone: Completes Gate 2 R3B

The Navy’s Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) (FVL (MS)) program recently completed its Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), culminating in a Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (N9) “Gate 2” Resources and Requirements Review Board (R3B). The board unanimously endorsed the results of the AoA and directed the program to...
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226 Fallen Firefighters to be Honored at NASCAR Xfinity Series Race in Daytona, August 2024

226 Fallen Firefighters to be Honored at NASCAR Xfinity Series Race in Daytona, August 2024

Release and all photos taken by and thanks to Whelen, NASCAR, and Richard Childress Racing: We were extremely proud and honored to bring so many to our booth for the unveiling of the special paint scheme for the No. 2 Whelen Chevy Camaro honoring 226 firefighters who died in the line of duty, and...
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Beginning of First 5-Year Review Webster Outlying Field and Completion of Sixth 5-Year Review of Naval Air Station Patuxent River

Beginning of First 5-Year Review Webster Outlying Field and Completion of Sixth 5-Year Review of Naval Air Station Patuxent River

The Department of the Navy and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3, with concurrence from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), are beginning a Five-Year Review of existing Record of Decision (ROD) documents and ongoing remedial (environmental cleanup) actions at the Webster Outlying Field in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, and completed...
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Villaruel Named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for NAS Patuxent River

Villaruel Named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for NAS Patuxent River

St. Mary’s County Government recognized Cpl. Marc Villaruel for his exceptional work as a Department of Defense Police Officer at NAS Patuxent River at the St. Mary’s Law Enforcement Appreciation Day May 7. The event recognized the contributions of law enforcement officers at local, state, and federal offices within St. Mary’s County, and included...
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Marine’s New CH-53K Helicopter Transports F-35 Airframe Between Test Sites in Maryland and New Jersey

Marine’s New CH-53K Helicopter Transports F-35 Airframe Between Test Sites in Maryland and New Jersey

U.S. Marines flying a CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter transported an F-35C Lightning II airframe from the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Patuxent River (Pax ITF) to a Navy unit located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, April 24. A Marine aircrew from Marine Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) flew the most powerful...
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Naval Test Pilot School Students Evaluate Orion Handling Qualities at NASA

Naval Test Pilot School Students Evaluate Orion Handling Qualities at NASA

NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, Patuxent River, MD: As part of a technical exchange with NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, 24 test pilots under instruction from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD) U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) were invited to spend a week at NASA to evaluate the Orion spacecraft controls...
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NAS Patuxent River Gate 1 Closure on Friday Morning May 3rd, 2024

NAS Patuxent River Gate 1 Closure on Friday Morning May 3rd, 2024

NAS Patuxent River will close Gate 1 on Friday, May 3rd, from 9:00 a.m., to 11 a.m. for scheduled maintenance. NAS Pax River’s Gate 2 will keep three lanes open for inbound traffic during that time.
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NAS Pax River Opens Gate 3 to Outbound Traffic Monday Through Thursday

NAS Pax River Opens Gate 3 to Outbound Traffic Monday Through Thursday

NAS Pax River has reopened Gate 3 to outbound traffic Monday-Thursday from 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m. All Gate hours are as follows: Gate 1: Open 24/7 Gate 2: Open Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Gate 3: Open Monday-Friday 6 a.m-9 .am. (inbound), and Monday-Thursday 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (outbound) NAS Patuxent River released the following earlier this...
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Woman Flown to Trauma Center After Striking NAS Patuxent River Security Fencing in Lexington Park

Woman Flown to Trauma Center After Striking NAS Patuxent River Security Fencing in Lexington Park

On Monday, April 22, 2024, at approximately 10:02 p.m., police, fire and rescue personnel responded to the area of Three Notch Road and Melissa Moore Lane in Lexington Park, for a motor vehicle collision with injuries. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle off the roadway and into the NAS Patuxent...
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Navy Accepts First Delivery of T-54A Training Aircraft

Navy Accepts First Delivery of T-54A Training Aircraft

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD: The new multi-engine training system brings modernized training, prepares pilots for advanced aircraft in fleet The U.S. Navy received the first two operational T-54A multi-engine training system aircraft last week at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The T-54A will replace the aging T-44C Pegasus aircraft, which...
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Patuxent River Sailor Commended for Providing Life-Saving Roadside Assistance After Tragic Crash in Hollywood

Patuxent River Sailor Commended for Providing Life-Saving Roadside Assistance After Tragic Crash in Hollywood

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Isaiah Mercado is no stranger to high-stress scenarios. As a Navy armament weapons support equipment technician with Navy Munitions Command Atlantic Detachment Patuxent River (NMCLANT DET Pax) his duties include supporting both air- and surface-launched weapons by performing intermediate level maintenance on both peculiar and common ordnance handling and transportation...
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NAS Patuxent River Moves to 100% ID Checks at Gates

NAS Patuxent River Moves to 100% ID Checks at Gates

NAS Patuxent River has instituted a 100 % ID check policy for all personnel entering the base. While the Trusted Traveler Program remains in effect, all vehicle passengers must present valid state or federal government ID in order to gain entry to the base. This is an added security measure intended to protect the...
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NAS Patuxent River Regrets to Announce Passing of Firefighter Corey Porter

NAS Patuxent River Regrets to Announce Passing of Firefighter Corey Porter

We are deeply saddened to share with you the untimely loss of our brother, Firefighter Corey Porter. Firefighter Porter began his federal firefighting career with us at NAS Patuxent River Battalion of NDW, 12 April 2021, and from day one showed an eagerness for involvement and firemanship. An ARFF and Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator, FF...
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U.S. Navy Delivers First P-8A Poseidon Aircraft for Increment 3 Block 2 Modifications

U.S. Navy Delivers First P-8A Poseidon Aircraft for Increment 3 Block 2 Modifications

The U.S. Navy delivered the first P-8A Poseidon aircraft to be modified with Increment 3 Block 2 capabilities to Boeing on March 27, enabling the fleet to be outfitted with the full anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities outlined in the P-8A program’s evolutionary acquisition strategy. The...
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NAVAIR Leadership, Programs to Present at Annual Sea-Air-Space Expo on April 8, 2024

NAVAIR Leadership, Programs to Present at Annual Sea-Air-Space Expo on April 8, 2024

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD – A discussion panel featuring Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) leaders Adm. Carl Chebi, Rear Adm. John Dougherty, Rear Adm. Joseph Hornbuckle, and Dan Carreño highlight this year’s Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exposition 2024, hosted by the Navy League of the United States. The event kicks off Monday,...
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Noise Advisory – NAS PAX RIVER Sets Noise Advisory for Webster Outlying Field April 10-12, 2024

Noise Advisory – NAS PAX RIVER Sets Noise Advisory for Webster Outlying Field April 10-12, 2024

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD – Communities surrounding the Webster Outlying Field are advised that noise-generating night-time testing events are scheduled to take place April 10 through April 12, 2024 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Night testing and training is essential for the precision and safety of our service members and the...
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New Contract Award to Deliver 17 New Block III Super Hornet Aircraft and Critical Technical Data for Fleet

New Contract Award to Deliver 17 New Block III Super Hornet Aircraft and Critical Technical Data for Fleet

The U.S. Navy awarded The Boeing Company a $1.3 billion contract March 19 for the purchase of 17 F/A-18 Super Hornets and delivery of a technical data package vital to the sustainment of the platform. “The technical data package was a crucial part of this negotiation; it is necessary for naval aviation’s operational readiness...
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Hoyer Secures Over $11 Million in Funding for Fifth District Priorities in FY2024 Appropriations Bill

Hoyer Secures Over $11 Million in Funding for Fifth District Priorities in FY2024 Appropriations Bill

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement after he helped pass the 2024 Fiscal Year legislation, announcing over $11,304,279 in Community Project Funding for Fifth District priorities. This total is in addition to the more than $16,000,000 that Congressman Hoyer secured for projects in the Fifth District in the FY23 Omnibus. The Senate...
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Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office Conducts Change of Command

Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office Conducts Change of Command

Capt. Duane Whitmer relieved Capt. Holly Shoger as the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273) program manager during a change of command ceremony in California, Maryland, on Thursday, March 7. PMA-273 develops and oversees diverse and carrier-capable naval flight training systems for student pilots and undergraduate military flight officers to acquire mission-critical...
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NAVAIR Returns V-22 Osprey to Flight Status

NAVAIR Returns V-22 Osprey to Flight Status

Naval Air System, PAX River – Effective March 8, 2024 at 7 a.m. EST, Naval Air Systems Command is issuing a flight clearance for the V-22 Osprey thereby lifting the grounding. This decision follows a meticulous and data-driven approach prioritizing the safety of our aircrews. A U.S. Air Force investigation began following the tragic...
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Great Mills Native Serves Aboard Navy Warship in San Diego

Great Mills Native Serves Aboard Navy Warship in San Diego

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nevyn Harris, a native of Great Mills, Maryland, serves the U.S. Navy aboard USS Tripoli operating out of San Diego. Harris graduated from Great Mills High School in 2017. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Great Mills. “I learned in...
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NAS Patuxent River Announces Its Sailors of the Year for 2023

NAS Patuxent River Announces Its Sailors of the Year for 2023

NAS Patuxent River announces its Sailors of the Year, marking the command’s top Sailors for 2023. “I am regularly impressed by the commitment our Pax Sailors show to their command, their Navy, and each other,” said NAS Patuxent River Commanding Officer Capt. Douglas Burfield. “The Sailors chosen as this year’s Sailors of the Year...
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