Beyond the traditional passing of the military torch, the recent change of command ceremony for the Airborne Electronic Attack Program Office (PMA-234) gave guests reasons to chuckle.
Held Jan. 24 at the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett here at “Pax River,” the ceremony ushered in Capt. John “Bails” Bailey as PMA 234’s new program manager and bid farewell to Capt. John “Fozzy” Green, who takes on new duties leading the Electronic Warfare Infrastructure Improvement Project Advance Development Program Office, which is aligned under Acquisition Program Management, or AIR-1.0.
Guest speaker Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis, who leads the Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)), praised Green for his ability to withstand the “peaks and valleys that came with managing the PMA and one if its major projects, Next Generation Jammer,” the subject of a recent contract protest.
“Doctor [Martin Luther] King once said ‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at time of challenge and controversy,’” Gaddis said. “Thanks Fozzy for standing through the controversy.”
Bailey, who has been stationed at Pax since 2003, most recently served with the Air Warfare Mission Area/From the Air Program Office (PMA-298) as the integrated product team lead for all Integrated Fire Control capability increments. He earned his Naval Flight Officer wings in October 1992 and has more than 2,600 hours in 23 different jet, prop and rotary-wing aircraft. The new program manager graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., in 1998 with a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Gaddis congratulated Bailey on his new position and offered tips for his program manager’s “playbook.”
“Bails, you have some big shoes to fill, and I know you are eager and extremely capable of continuing the road map that has been laid before you, but I offer you a bit of advice,” Gaddis said. “Take the lead and shape the dialogue. Have a strong backbone because appreciative inquiry doesn’t always exist in this business, so you must develop a thick skin while not allowing it to make you jaded.”
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