Department of Defense

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – November 15, 2022

St. Mary’s County Commissioner Meeting Rollup – November 15, 2022

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County held their regular business meeting in the Chesapeake Building Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, with the invocation and pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The Commissioners recognized the 2022 Citizens Academy graduates and presented Proclamations in recognition of the Great American Smokeout and Giving Tuesday. The Commissioners...
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Bravo Zulu! Southern Maryland’s Military Leaders Welcome LSM Class of ’23 for Behind the Scenes NAS Pax River Base Tour

Bravo Zulu! Southern Maryland’s Military Leaders Welcome LSM Class of ’23 for Behind the Scenes NAS Pax River Base Tour

The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program Class of 2023 strengthened their leadership wings Nov. 3 when they went behind the scenes at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Pax River). The class was allowed on base for a rare in-person tour to learn about the vital roles that Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the...
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NAVAIR Employee Named 2022 Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Awards Supply Chain Acquisition Professional of the Year

NAVAIR Employee Named 2022 Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Awards Supply Chain Acquisition Professional of the Year

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md: Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) International Transportation Team Lead Mark Vernetti was named the 2022 Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Awards Supply Chain Acquisition Professional of the Year Nov. 3 for his efforts that quickly and effectively met U.S. international partners’ mission requirements. Under Vernetti’s leadership,...
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Navy Achieves Full Operational Capability on Critical Underwater Training Range

Navy Achieves Full Operational Capability on Critical Underwater Training Range

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. The Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges program office’s (PMA-205) Ocean Systems Fixed Ranges team recently achieved full operational capability on the Undersea Warfare Training Ranges Increment I (USWTR INC I) program 13 months ahead of schedule. The USWTR INC I training range supports fleet readiness through...
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Maryland Senator Urges Department of Justice and ATF to Clarify and Enforce Ghost Gun Rules

Maryland Senator Urges Department of Justice and ATF to Clarify and Enforce Ghost Gun Rules

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) along with a group of senators in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to issue enforcement guidance and clarify the recently finalized Ghost Gun Rule. The rule regulates unfinished frames and receivers that are...
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Lexington Park Woman Sentenced to 30 Months In Federal Prison For Obtaining Over $1 Million In Fraudulent Disability Benefits

Lexington Park Woman Sentenced to 30 Months In Federal Prison For Obtaining Over $1 Million In Fraudulent Disability Benefits

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Angela Marie Farr, age 36, of Lexington Park, Maryland, yesterday to 30 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit theft of government property and for theft of government property, in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulently disability benefits from...
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Noise Advisory – Field Carrier Landing Practice Flights Oct. 24-Nov. 11, 2022

Noise Advisory – Field Carrier Landing Practice Flights Oct. 24-Nov. 11, 2022

Communities surrounding the naval air station are advised that noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place Oct. 24, 2022 – Nov. 11, 2022 from 8 a.m. – 1 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...
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NAS Pax River Search and Rescue Invites Personnel to the SAR Swim the Bay Day on Friday, October 28, 2022

NAS Pax River Search and Rescue Invites Personnel to the SAR Swim the Bay Day on Friday, October 28, 2022

The NAS Patuxent River Search and Rescue team, the SAR Dogs, are inviting all interested personnel, military and civilian, to join them for their annual Swim the Bay event Oct. 28. The 1.7-mile swim will start onboard Pax River from the beach at West Basin Marina and finish across the water at the Chesapeake...
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U.S. Navy Demos Wide Range of VTOL Systems for Future Operations

U.S. Navy Demos Wide Range of VTOL Systems for Future Operations

The Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PMA-263) program team put Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) systems through their paces during a two-week technical demonstration in mid-September. More than a dozen vendors attended the event to help inform the Navy Expeditionary Warfare community of the functions and capabilities available on the...
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La Plata Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Admitted to Sexually Abusing Minor Over 3-Year Period

La Plata Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Admitted to Sexually Abusing Minor Over 3-Year Period

Charles Clark, 65, of La Plata, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Clark pleaded...
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PG County Man Sentenced to 37-Years in Prison for 2014 Murder of Woman in Southeast D.C.

PG County Man Sentenced to 37-Years in Prison for 2014 Murder of Woman in Southeast D.C.

Mark Bowser, 42, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, has been sentenced to 37 years in prison for fatally stabbing a woman with 47 sharp force injuries in an attack that took place inside the victim’s home in Southeast Washington. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief...
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NSWC Indian Head EXU-1 Officer Receives Prestigious Leadership Award

NSWC Indian Head EXU-1 Officer Receives Prestigious Leadership Award

By NSWC Indian Head Division Public Affairs., Indian Head, Md.  –  Lt. Patrick Gest, Expeditionary Exploitation Unit ONE (EXU-1), received the Rear Admiral Draper L. Kauffman Leadership Award in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sept. 30. Kauffman organized the first U.S. Navy Demolition Team in 1943 and is widely regarded as one of the forefathers of explosive...
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St. Mary’s County Government Operations and NAS Patuxent River Gate Hours for Columbus Day

St. Mary’s County Government Operations and NAS Patuxent River Gate Hours for Columbus Day

NAS Patuxent River Announces Gate Hours for Columbus Day Holiday Friday, October 7th. Gate 1: 24/7 Gate 2: 5:30 a.m., to 6:00 p.m. Gate 3: Closed NOTE: No extra lanes open during morning rush hour. Saturday/Sunday/Monday, Oct 8-10th Gate 1: 24/7 Gate 2: Closed Gate 3: Closed In observance of the Columbus Day holiday,...
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U.S. Navy Fast-Tracks Contract for MQ-9 Reaper Advanced Technology

U.S. Navy Fast-Tracks Contract for MQ-9 Reaper Advanced Technology

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. October 3, 2022 — The Navy recently awarded an $8.4 million dollar contract to multiple vendors for the Marine Corps’ MQ-9 Reaper Airborne Network Extension (ANE) Skytower II (STII). Industry partners Global Air Logistics and Training (GALT), Northrop Grumman and L-3 Harris will perform work to develop...
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Annapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Charges, Police Seize Over $32,000 in Drug Proceeds

Annapolis Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Charges, Police Seize Over $32,000 in Drug Proceeds

U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Keith L. Brown, a/k/a “Clown Brown”, age 64, of Annapolis, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute phencyclidine, crack, heroin, and cocaine. Khayr Basimibnbrown, age 42, of Annapolis, Maryland, Brown’s son and co-defendant, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess...
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Charles County Felon Sentenced to 10-Years in Federal Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without a License and Transporting Firearms from Out of State With Intent to Sell Them

Charles County Felon Sentenced to 10-Years in Federal Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without a License and Transporting Firearms from Out of State With Intent to Sell Them

U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Deante Mandel Duckett, age 37, of Cheverly, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for dealing in firearms without a license and for transporting a firearm with intent to commit a felony. The sentence was imposed on September 28, 2022....
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NAS Patuxent River Extending Gate Hours at Gate 3 Beginning Monday, October 3, 2022 – Road Closures Expects Beginning Oct. 7th

NAS Patuxent River Extending Gate Hours at Gate 3 Beginning Monday, October 3, 2022 – Road Closures Expects Beginning Oct. 7th

NAS Patuxent River will extend its hours at Gate 3 from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Gate 3 will close on weekends and holidays. Gate 1 will continue 24-hour operations seven days a week. Gate 2 is open 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and closed weekends and holidays. Scheduled work to complete...
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Prince George’s County Drug Dealer Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution and Illegal Possession of Firearm, Police Recover 27 Firearms

Prince George’s County Drug Dealer Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution and Illegal Possession of Firearm, Police Recover 27 Firearms

U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Larry Clinton Proctor, age 33, of District Heights, Maryland, to 87 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and cocaine, and for illegal possession of a machinegun. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney...
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U.S. Navy Evaluates New Crash Crane, Increasing Capability and Availability

U.S. Navy Evaluates New Crash Crane, Increasing Capability and Availability

The Navy’s Common Aviation Support Equipment program office (PMA-260) is currently evaluating Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) on a Crash and Salvage Crane (CSC) at the Aircraft Anechoic Test Facility in Patuxent River. Electromagnetic waves within the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum are used for communication, radar and information networks aboard ships. The E3 evaluation currently...
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Thorpe Wins DoN HBCU/MI Program Administering Officer of the Year Award

Thorpe Wins DoN HBCU/MI Program Administering Officer of the Year Award

Maria Thorpe, acting executive director of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Systems Acquisition Group, recently received the Department of the Navy (DoN) Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program Administering Officer of the Year Award for 2022. Anthony Smith, director of the DoN HBCU/MI program, and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)...
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Leadership Southern Maryland Welcomes the Executive Program Class of 2023

Leadership Southern Maryland Welcomes the Executive Program Class of 2023

The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of 29 Southern Maryland leaders for its 15th Executive Program cycle The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that Cpl. Nick DeFelice has been selected to participate in Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program Class of 2023. From...
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NAS Patuxent River to Re-Open Extra Lanes at Gate 1 and Gate 2 Beginning Monday, September 9

NAS Patuxent River to Re-Open Extra Lanes at Gate 1 and Gate 2 Beginning Monday, September 9

NAS Patuxent River will reopen additional inbound lanes to vehicle traffic at Gates 1 and 2 beginning Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. Gate 3 will be open for inbound and outbound traffic from 6:00 a.m., to 9:00 a.m. Following the backlash from the community, County Commissioner Todd Morgan released the following statement. “Re-traffic problems at...
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NAS Patuxent River Transitions to Health Protection Condition Alpha

NAS Patuxent River Transitions to Health Protection Condition Alpha

Naval Air Station Patuxent River announced on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 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...
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Sabre Systems, Inc., Awarded Small Tactical Unmanned Air Systems (STUAS) PMA-263 Contract

Sabre Systems, Inc., Awarded Small Tactical Unmanned Air Systems (STUAS) PMA-263 Contract

Sabre Systems, Inc., was awarded a task order under the Department of Defense (DoD) Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract (IAC-MAC) by the Airforce Installation Contracting Agency. The task order was awarded through the Agile Innovative Solutions (AIS) Joint Venture (JV) with Sabre serving as the managing partner. The single award task order provides...
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Annapolis Man Facing Federal Charge for Threatening a Member of Congress

Annapolis Man Facing Federal Charge for Threatening a Member of Congress

A criminal complaint has been filed charging Justin Kuchta, age 39, of Annapolis, Maryland, with a federal charge for sending messages over the Internet that threatened to injure a United States Member of Congress.  The complaint was filed on September 6, 2022. The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District...
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