NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER, AIRCRAFT DIVISION, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The annual Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Commanders Awards were held August 13 at NAS Patuxent River. During the event, three program executive office (PEO) air, anti-submarine warfare, assault, and special mission (A) program offices (PMA) were among the eight winners.
The event was presided over by Rear Adm. Todd Evans, NAWCAD Commander.
“It’s an honor to celebrate our workforce at this year’s Commanders Award’s. I am amazed at the scope and depth of what this command does. Research, engineering, test, sustainment, training and operational support, all connected by a shared purpose of strengthening naval aviation,” said Evans.
In all, 32 nominations were received and eight were selected as having “met all the award criteria and were considered to be the most representative of the challenging and outstanding work done” within NAWCAD. PEO(A) secured winners from three of the 10 program offices.
“This is a community where innovation thrives because questions are encouraged. Accountability is shared and every one of us has the opportunity to make a difference. The individuals and teams we recognize today demonstrate what happens when all the threads come together to support the warfighter,” added Evans.
The NAWCAD Commanders Awards winners for fiscal year 2025 from PEO(A) program are:
E-6B Fuel Cell Interconnector Fitting Assembly Additive Manufacturing Team
Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) engineers were recognized for the Rapid Capability Delivery Award category.
An initial request of 12 E-6B fuel cell interconnector fitting assemblies to support the completion of depot maintenance on multiple E-6B aircraft was met with more than a 60-week delivery timeline. Over 15 weeks, this team successfully executed an aggressive and dynamic delivery schedule for on time delivery of all 12 parts. The success of this delivery showed an effective use of additive manufacturing to meet urgent fleet needs across the Naval Aviation Enterprise while also realizing time and cost savings.
“This team is dedicated to Speed to the Fleet and thinking outside the box,” said Capt. Roger Davis, PMA-271 program manager. “We are proud to have talented individuals who come together to solve difficult problems while saving time and money.”
PMA-271 delivers and supports survivable, reliable and endurable airborne command, control and communications for the president, secretary of defense and U.S. Strategic Command.
V-22 Clutch Instrumentation Team
V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) was honored to have their Clutch Instrumentation Team recognized for the Technology Advancement and Transition category.
Outstanding innovation was accomplished by employing advanced technology to measure sprag clutch behavior during flight tests. Unprecedented insights into specific dynamics during rapidly changing mission conditions were able to be collected and researched. By partnering with decision-makers and warfighters, the team has gathered significant insight that will address critical safety issues and enhance operational reliability into the future. The team’s work has set a benchmark for advancing aviation safety and readiness.
“Our team has laser focus on achieving impactful outcomes for this platform,” said Col Robert Hurst, PMA-275 program manager. “I’m proud to have a great team working hard each day to ensure safety and readiness to the fleet.”
PMA-275 manages the cradle-to-grave procurement, development, support, fielding, and disposal of the tiltrotor program systems for U.S. Marine Corps medium-lift assault support, the U.S. Air Force’s Special Operations Forces long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions, and Navy’s long-range/medium-lift element of the intra-theater aerial logistics capability fulfilling the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC) time-critical logistics air connector requirements by transporting personnel, mail and priority cargo from advance bases to the Seabase.
KC-130T NP2000 Aerial Refueling Envelope Expansion Team
Tactical Airlift Program Office (PMA-207) was honored to have their Aerial Refueling Envelope Expansion Team recognized for the Warfighting Gap Solutions Excellence category.
The combined efforts of VX-20, HX-21, and VX-23 executed an expeditious envelope expansion test program lasting five months from inception to completion. The testing involved close coordination between the three squadrons and used multiple receiver aircraft for test data collection. The test enabled the NP2000 propeller equipped KC-130T to expand from being cleared on a single aircraft to now supporting multiple platforms expanding the aircraft’s mission. This significantly increases Naval Aviation’s operational reach and flexibility, as well as for several international allies.
“KC-130T typically provides intra-theater logistic support to enable distributed maritime operations; however, the fleet has an emergent requirement for air-to-air refueling capability,” said Col Steven Puckett, PMA-207 program manager. “This rapid and streamlined envelop expansion effort achieved its certification objectives in record time, enabling expanded reach and flexibility to our Navy operators.”
PMA-207 manages the cradle to grave procurement, development, support, fielding and disposal of the Navy’s tactical airlift programs.
PEO(A) provides fleet capability and capacity, supporting development and sustainment of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, special mission aircraft and aviation anti-submarine warfare equipment and aircraft. PEO(A) comprises ten major program offices.