Department of Defense

UPDATE: St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel County School Status – Wednesday, Jan.17th, 2024

UPDATE: St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel County School Status – Wednesday, Jan.17th, 2024

UPDATE 1/17/2024: Charles County is operating with a two-hour delay on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Calvert County – Two hour delay. There is no a.m. Pre-Kindergarten. 12-month administrators, emergency personnel, report on time. 12-month educational support staff may report up to one hour late. Childcare will open at 7:30 a.m. St. Mary’s County –...
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NAS Patuxent River Operating under Two-Hour Delayed Arrival/Unscheduled Leave/Telework Status for Non-Essential Personnel due to Weather

NAS Patuxent River Operating under Two-Hour Delayed Arrival/Unscheduled Leave/Telework Status for Non-Essential Personnel due to Weather

NAS Patuxent River has announced it will be open on a 2-hour delayed arrival schedule Tuesday, January 16, 2024 for non-essential personnel. Essential personnel must report to work as previously scheduled; Essential Personnel are designated as those performing duties that are critical to the operations of security, emergency management, medical facilities, public safety, and...
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Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Program Office FMS Lead Receives French Medal of Aeronautics

Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Program Office FMS Lead Receives French Medal of Aeronautics

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD: Bill Hasegawa, Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE) Program Office (PMA-251) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Lead, received an elite French Médaille de l’Aéronautique recently for his accomplishment to aviation. Commending both Hasegawa and his team’s efforts, Dr. Emmanuel Chiva, Chief Executive, Direction générale de l’armement (DGA, French...
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Burfield Takes Charge of NAS Pax River at Change of Command Ceremony

Burfield Takes Charge of NAS Pax River at Change of Command Ceremony

Naval Air Station Patuxent River held a ceremony Jan. 10 in which Capt. Douglas Burfield assumed command of the installation from outgoing Commanding Officer Capt. Derrick Kingsley. Burfield’s role as NAS Patuxent River commanding officer follows his previous position as the base executive officer, which he took on in June 2022 falls under the...
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PMA-271 Celebrates 50 Years of Women in Naval Aviation!

PMA-271 Celebrates 50 Years of Women in Naval Aviation!

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD: This year marks the 50th anniversary of women in naval aviation, an anniversary that celebrates when the first women began flight school in Pensacola, Florida, back in 1973. In the years since those “first six” donned their flight suits, women’s role in naval aviation has expanded to serve and...
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Top Stories for 2023 on Southern Maryland News Net; Year in Review

Top Stories for 2023 on Southern Maryland News Net; Year in Review

Our top 15 most read stories for 2023. Great Mills Woman Arrested for Murdering Boyfriend and Disposing His Body Parts in Charles and St. Mary’s Counties On December 21, 2022, a report was made to the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack that James Volodimir Nalborczyk, 50 was missing. The family stated that sometime after...
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NAS Patuxent River Nighttime Flights through January 31, 2024

NAS Patuxent River Nighttime Flights through January 31, 2024

Communities surrounding the naval air station are advised that noise-generating nighttime testing events are scheduled to take place December 04, 2023 through January 31, 2024 from 5 p.m. through 10 p.m. nightly. Pilots at NAS Pax River will be conducting night departures and landings, essential training for the precision and safety of our pilots...
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New Generation of Air Dominance; Celebrating 45 Years of the Navy’s First Multirole Aircraft

New Generation of Air Dominance; Celebrating 45 Years of the Navy’s First Multirole Aircraft

Born out of necessity and innovation, the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet introduced a level of aircraft superiority that had not been seen before and set the standard for future development of next-gen fighters. Now, celebrating the 45th anniversary of its first flight Nov. 18, the original strike fighter aircraft is affectionately referred to as...
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What is Veterans Day?

What is Veterans Day?

Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained from combat. That’s not quite true. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America’s war dead. Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors...
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U.S. Navy to Deploy SDB-II Smart Weapon Aboard F/A-18 Aircraft

U.S. Navy to Deploy SDB-II Smart Weapon Aboard F/A-18 Aircraft

The Navy is set to field the Small Diameter Bomb-II on the F/A-18E/F after declaring Early Operational Capability (EOC) in October. The F/A-18E/F is the Navy’s first platform to carry the SDB-II, giving the aircraft the capability to hit moving targets in harsh weather and address targets in dynamic scenarios. “The Navy and Air...
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Navy Upgrades Pilot Helmet-Mounted Components for F/A-18 and EA-18G, Increasing Safety, Readiness

Navy Upgrades Pilot Helmet-Mounted Components for F/A-18 and EA-18G, Increasing Safety, Readiness

The Naval Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202) is leading the design and modification of the F/A-18 and EA-18G pilot helmet-mounted components of the Improved Joint Helmet-Mounted Cuing System (IJHMCS). The Navy awarded a $16.8 million contract July 28 to Collins Elbit Vision Systems for the design and development of the IJHMCS, making the system...
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Pax Search and Rescue ‘SAR Dog’ Deploys with Navy’s Newest Medical Expeditionary Capability

Pax Search and Rescue ‘SAR Dog’ Deploys with Navy’s Newest Medical Expeditionary Capability

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Bradley Christian, a native of Mexia, Texas, deployed as part of the Navy’s first En-Route Care System (ERCS) medical expeditionary capability aboard the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) on a regularly scheduled deployment, Oct. 14. Christian, who is assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Patuxent River, is...
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Noise Advisory – NAS PAX RIVER Sets Noise Advisory for Nighttime FCLP Flights Oct. 23, 2023

Noise Advisory – NAS PAX RIVER Sets Noise Advisory for Nighttime FCLP Flights Oct. 23, 2023

Communities surrounding NAS Patuxent River are advised that noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 from 7 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. 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 on an aircraft...
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Two Anne Arundel County Men, Including Department of Defense Deputy Chief, Charged with Facilitating Dog Fighting Ring

Two Anne Arundel County Men, Including Department of Defense Deputy Chief, Charged with Facilitating Dog Fighting Ring

A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Frederick Douglass Moorefield, Jr., age 62, of Arnold, Maryland, and Mario Damon Flythe, age 49, of Glen Burnie, Maryland with promoting and furthering animal fighting venture. The criminal complaint was filed on September 21, 2023, and was unsealed at the defendants’ initial appearances on September 28,...
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Commander of Naval Test Wing Atlantic Presents Trossbach Family with Shadowbox

Commander of Naval Test Wing Atlantic Presents Trossbach Family with Shadowbox

“On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, three months to the day of losing our brother Brice Trossbach in the line of duty, Cmdr. Charles Larwood, C/O of VX-20, and Commodore Capt. Elizabeth Somerville, Commander of Naval Test Wing Atlantic presented a commemorative shadowbox to Brice’s family. The shadowbox contained the unit patches of Naval Test...
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Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical UAS Program Office Welcomes New Leadership

Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical UAS Program Office Welcomes New Leadership

A new program manager stepped into command for the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office (PMA-263) during a change of command ceremony Sept. 21 at Naval Air Warfare Center Webster Outlying Field, St. Inigoes, Maryland. During the ceremony overlooking the St. Mary’s River at Unmanned Test and Evaluation Squadron...
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Leadership Southern Maryland Announces Selection of the Executive Program Class of 2024

Leadership Southern Maryland Announces Selection of the Executive Program Class of 2024

LEONARDTOWN, MD – September 19, 2023: The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of 35 Southern Maryland leaders for its 16th Executive Program cycle—the Class of 2024. The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of 35 Southern Maryland leaders for...
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Safety Pilot Tackles Launching and Arresting Aircraft

Safety Pilot Tackles Launching and Arresting Aircraft

Commander Naval Air Forces and Headquarters Marine Corps have brought a heightened awareness to Naval Aviation safety to prevent mishaps. In response, the Naval Aviation Enterprise has been improving safety management processes, tools and methods to be more data driven. Several pilot programs are underway to test and mature these new approaches. One of...
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Night Flight Activities Scheduled at NAS Patuxent River September 12-22, 2023

Night Flight Activities Scheduled at NAS Patuxent River September 12-22, 2023

Communities surrounding Naval Air Station Patuxent River are advised that noise-generating nighttime testing events are scheduled to take place Sept. 12 through September 22, 2023. Flights will occur between 5 p.m. and midnight. Pilots at NAS Pax River will be training for realistic night flight scenarios including Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP). Night testing...
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First Round of Attack Helicopters Arrive in the Czech Republic

First Round of Attack Helicopters Arrive in the Czech Republic

Two AH-1Z Vipers arrived in the Czech Republic this week, marking the first in-country delivery as part of a partnership with the US Marine Corps H-1 Light/Attack Helicopter program office (PMA-276) and industry partner, Bell. “Four years ago, we embarked on a journey with the Czech Republic Air Force to deliver the H-1 family...
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Civil Air Patrol Squadron Hosting Open House on Saturday, August 26, 2023

Civil Air Patrol Squadron Hosting Open House on Saturday, August 26, 2023

The Charles Composite Squadron, local unit of Civil Air Patrol (CAP), is hosting an open house from 11:00 a.m., to 4:00 p.m., on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Holiday Inn Express, 6860 Crain Highway in La Plata MD. According to Lt Col Ronald Tucker, squadron commander, the entire community is welcome to attend...
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Noise Advisory – UAS Flights Scheduled at Webster Outlying Field August 19-20, 2023

Noise Advisory – UAS Flights Scheduled at Webster Outlying Field August 19-20, 2023

Communities surrounding Webster Outlying Field are advised that there will be weekend Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) test events scheduled to take place Aug. 19-20, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. As with all operations, NAS Patuxent River takes precautions to lessen the impact of testing activities on the community. For more information, call...
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F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office Holds Change of Command

F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office Holds Change of Command

The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) welcomed a new program manager Aug. 3 when Capt. Michael “Sniff” Burks relieved Capt. Jason “Stuf” Denney as PMA-265’s 15th program manager during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Vice Adm. Francis Morley, Principal Military Deputy for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy...
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The Patuxent Partnership Awards Three Area High School Graduates with Scholarships to Study Engineering at CSM

The Patuxent Partnership Awards Three Area High School Graduates with Scholarships to Study Engineering at CSM

Three southern Maryland high school graduates have been awarded The Patuxent Partnership (TPP) Pathways Scholarship to attend the College of Southern Maryland this fall thanks to the students’ exceptional achievements, and a unique partnership between CSM and TPP aimed at building the region’s workforce pipeline. Chopticon High School graduates Skye Blado of Mechanicsville, and...
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Noise Advisory – NAS Patuxent River Field Carrier Landing Practice Flights Scheduled July 17-18, 2023

Noise Advisory – NAS Patuxent River Field Carrier Landing Practice Flights Scheduled July 17-18, 2023

Communities surrounding Naval Air Station Patuxent River are advised that noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place July 17–July 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pilots at NAS Pax River 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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