PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office (PMA-272) welcomed Col. Russell A. “Bubba” Strange as its new program manager during a change of command ceremony on June 11. Strange took over the reins from Brig. Gen. Tamara Campbell at the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett Building at NAS Patuxent River.
PMA-272 is responsible for developing, acquiring, and sustaining operational advancements in aircraft survivability equipment, a critical aspect of modern military aviation.
Brig. Gen. Campbell, who recently attained the rank of brigadier general, had been the program manager since August 2020, a period marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting on her tenure, Campbell highlighted the resilience and camaraderie within the PMA-272 team.
“It underscored the dynamic changes we experienced as a program office over the past four years,” Campbell said. “We went through some very hard times during COVID and afterwards, and lost some close friends and co-workers. This team showed up for each other each and every day.”
Campbell emphasized the importance of focusing on core principles—cost, schedule, and performance—while strengthening stakeholder relationships to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic and a fluctuating fiscal environment.
“The strength of a team is not how they react in good times, but how they recover from adversity,” Campbell added. “This team is strong and continues to ensure that our Sailors and Marines can fly fearlessly!”
Under Campbell’s leadership, PMA-272 launched several initiatives to advance Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), including an ASE Strategy for the Future, the Joint Airborne Mission Survivability (JAMS) initiative, and the PMA-272 Electronic Warfare Center of Excellence concept.
Significant accomplishments over the past four years included initiating high-visibility programs like the Common Carriage, Integrated ASE, and Advanced RF Decoy Programs of Record (PoR); upgrading and fielding the ALQ-214 onboard jammer; and further developing the Advanced Dual Band (Towed) Decoy. PMA-272 also expanded its footprint with allies and international partners.
In 2020, PMA-272 won the NAVAIR Commander’s Award for its achievements in enhancing the survivability of Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force small-to-medium aircraft against critical threats, particularly through the AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure (DAIRCM) Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONS) program.
Campbell played a key role in establishing the AN/AAQ-45 DAIRCM PoR, an ACAT II Program, ensuring the delivery of vital infrared missile defense capabilities to the USMC, USAF, USA, and partner nations. Her efforts also extended to the development, testing, and fielding of advanced Air Expendable Countermeasures (AECM), including the MJU-76/B, MJU-77/B, MJU-78/B, and RR-203.
Campbell’s next assignment will be as Commander of the Marine Corps Systems Command.
Col. Strange expressed enthusiasm about leading the PMA-272 team. “I’m looking forward to joining the 272 team and being in the arena with a phenomenal team providing critical capability to those who are defending our way of life,” he said.
Strange, a 2001 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantitative Economics, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He later earned his Naval Flight Officer wings and completed EA-6B Prowler Fleet Replacement Squadron training, becoming an Electronic Countermeasures Officer.
Throughout his career, Strange has completed two combat deployments to Al Asad Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and held various assignments with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ) 1, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, and Marine Corps Base Quantico’s Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Branch.
His NAVAIR assignments include two tours with the Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Program Office (PMA-234) as the Military Deputy Integrated Product Team Lead (IPTL) of the AN/ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II and then as the Deputy Program Manager of both Airborne Electronic Attack Products and EA-6B. Strange also served with the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Program Office (PMA-263) and the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261) as the Deputy Program Manager of the CH-53K.