Patuxent River, Md. – A diverse group of 26 men and women celebrated their graduation from the Navy Acquisition Development Program (NADP) on Sept. 25 at the University System of Maryland’s Southern Maryland campus in California, Maryland.
The NADP, a three-year internship program, is designed to introduce participants to various fields, including finance, acquisition, contracting, logistics, science, and engineering. The program provides training and advancement opportunities in several Naval Aviation Systems Command (NAVAIR) divisions, such as the Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC), and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft and Weapons Divisions.
Opening Remarks Reflect on Program’s Value
Roy Harris, director of the NAVAIR Sustainment Group, addressed the audience during the ceremony, reflecting on his career, which began through a similar internship. Harris emphasized the program’s role in shaping his understanding of logistics and sustainment within NAVAIR.
“When I came on board right out of college a long, long time ago, I didn’t know much about the command, about the business, about the work itself,” Harris shared. “In having an internship program to come into and learn the ropes and learn about the NAVAIR organization and learn about what logistics and sustainment and sustainment engineering is was just invaluable.”
Harris noted that his time as an intern paved the way for him to grow into leadership roles, allowing him to mentor others who have since followed similar paths. “I worked through the organization, especially on the logistics side, and to become a supervisor for the interns that have come into the program and show them through it, see them graduate, and see the overall benefits of it, to me, is a tremendous opportunity. It’s a great way to introduce new talent into the command.”
Mentorship for the Future
Harris encouraged the graduates to continue the program’s legacy by serving as mentors to future NADP participants, emphasizing the importance of paying forward the knowledge and skills they have gained.
After the address, several graduates shared their experiences from the past three years, recounting their personal and professional growth in the program. The event concluded with the conferring of certificates to the graduates.
NADP Council Reforms
Two of the NADP graduates, Kristopher J. Bond and Madison Morgan, spoke about their efforts to reform the NADP Council. Bond credited Morgan, who served as the council president, with leading the initiative to revitalize the group, which had dissolved shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Back in October, we had a conversation to stand up the NADP Council,” Bond explained. “With Madison as the president, we have worked really hard to stand up the council, host monthly meetings, collaborate with other people, to host breakout sessions, tours, provide different opportunities and, to me, we completely turned the NADP around under Madison’s leadership.”
Morgan added that one of the council’s primary goals is to expand its reach and involve more people across the NAVAIR sites. “The next step is to get more people involved and expand our council nationwide,” she said. “We want to have representation from all the NAVAIR sites.”
Morgan highlighted the flexibility the program offers participants, allowing them to explore various areas of NAVAIR and develop a passion for their work. “I think the major benefit of the NADP is the opportunity and the freedom to pursue your interests within NAVAIR. It allows you to go on rotations, be able to network and cross different functional areas and even different [integrated product support] elements that creates workers who are passionate about their jobs and helps people find their niche,” Morgan said.
Graduates Reflect on Program’s Impact
Graduates reflected on the ways the program helped them grow both professionally and personally. Sara Pelkey, a deputy assistant program manager for logistics with the H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopter Program (PMA-299), described how the NADP pushed her out of her comfort zone and into leadership roles.
“[My current position] has forced me to jump into great responsibility quickly, forcing me to be more independent,” Pelkey said. “It has also provided me the opportunity to get onto H-60 helicopters multiple times, which is always a great experience and serves as a reminder as to why and how we are supporting the fleet.”
Alexia DeHetre, a logistics management specialist with the Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (PMA-266), shared a similar sentiment. “[The NADP] provided opportunities for me to rotate around the [Naval Aviation Enterprise] and gain different perspectives on how each organization supports the fleet,” DeHetre said. “It helped empower me to advocate for myself and what I want for my career.”
The ceremony marked a significant milestone for the graduates, many of whom will continue their careers in key roles supporting the Navy’s logistics, acquisition, and engineering operations.
