NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Weapons office (PMA-242) welcomed a new program manager during a ceremony held June 29 in Patuxent River.
The change of command ceremony, presided by Rear Adm. Mark Darrah, Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, transferred leadership from Capt. Al Mousseau to Capt. Matthew Commerford.
“These are two exceptional leaders being given the responsibility, accountability and authority to lead a group of people that are making a huge difference today in our ability to conduct military operations,” said Darrah. “Without the work, without the products this program generates, there are things we cannot accomplish in theater and around the world.”
During Mousseau’s tour of duty, his program office executed and completed a number of milestones. They responded to an urgent needs statement and outfitted UH-1Y crew served weapons with the incorporation of an increased field of fire kit. The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) fielded a major software update enhancing capability while concurrently ramping up production, recently marking the 500th weapon delivery milestone. His team rapidly integrated and fielded a fixed wing Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) variant for the AV-8B and increased APKWS production up to 10,000 units per year to meet domestic and international operational demand. He further led the Navy/Marine Corps team to a Milestone B approval for the Army led Joint Air-to-Ground Missile program and gained approval to accelerate pre-Milestone B activities for the AARGM Extended Range program.
“There is no challenge that this team can’t handle and that is so inspiring,” said Mousseau as he thanked the PMA-242 team. “This team as a whole, past and present, be proud of what you do…it matters.”
Mousseau will report in July to the Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Programs. Commerford takes command after most recently serving as the chief of staff for the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons. His previous assignments include serving as the PMA-265 deputy program manager for mission systems and the system configuration set integration product team lead for the F/A-18 and EA-18G program.
A native of Rapid City, South Dakota, Commerford will be responsible for managing a geographically dispersed team of more than 300 personnel to manage and execute a total program budget of $2.5 billion.
“I am truly honored and humbled to be joining the proud and accomplished PMA-242 team. I can think of no greater time to be in the service of the Department of the Navy than today and no better environment for change and opportunity than the future before us,” Commerford said.