NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Navy’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) marked a leadership transition on March 22, 2025, as Capt. Roger “Raji” Davis assumed command from Capt. Adam “Lurch” Scott during a ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River. Scott, who is retiring after 30 years of service, handed over the reins to Davis in an event attended by hundreds, including members of the “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) community.
Marine Corps Brig. Gen. David Walsh, program executive officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)), presided over the ceremony held at the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 hangar, a hub for E-6B Mercury flight testing. Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, commander of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), served as the guest speaker, praising Scott’s contributions.
“Congratulations on a tremendously successful career and thank you for your dedicated and faithful service to our great country,” Chebi said. “You truly made a difference and you performed magnificently. The United States Navy and naval aviation is far better today because of your many dedicated and faithful years of service.”
Scott, who took command of PMA-271 in January 2021, led a team of over 500 acquisition professionals in sustaining and modernizing the Navy’s E-6B fleet while advancing the development of the future E-130J aircraft. Under his leadership, the program reduced turnaround times for E-6B modifications and maintenance, secured funding for additional depot lines, and awarded a $3.5 billion contract for the E-130J. His efforts earned PMA-271 the 2023 NAVAIR Commander’s Award for applying the Navy’s “Get Real, Get Better” principles.
A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and decorated naval aviator, Scott also attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. His career focused on the airborne nuclear deterrence mission, a cornerstone of PMA-271’s work. In his farewell remarks, he urged the team to persist in their critical role.
“Stay in the fight. Don’t give up,” Scott said. “Today closes one long, 30-year chapter of our journey. I look forward to seeing what the next chapter looks like.”
Davis, a TACAMO veteran, steps into the role after serving as the E-6B Level 1 Integrated Product Team Lead at PMA-271, where he managed the fleet’s sustainment and upgrades. Commissioned in 2003 and a 2008 graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Davis previously commanded Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3 from 2021 to 2022. His experience positions him to guide PMA-271 through a pivotal period as it prepares to transition the TACAMO mission to the E-130J.
“The next four years will see the need for our TACAMO warfighters to be ready in a way we haven’t seen before, ready to be in the forefront of our nation’s nuclear deterrence strategy,” Davis said. “This community is the foundation that will enable that readiness, supporting those warfighters that fly today, and preparing a system that will endure in the future.”
PMA-271, headquartered at NAS Patuxent River with personnel at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, and Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, ensures reliable airborne command, control, and communications for national leadership and U.S. Strategic Command. The E-6B Mercury currently supports the TACAMO mission—maintaining communication with nuclear forces if ground systems fail—and the Looking Glass mission, enabling airborne launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The E-130J will eventually assume the TACAMO role.
The Navy’s nuclear deterrence mission remains a priority, as noted on the U.S. Strategic Command’s website www.stratcom.mil, which underscores the need for survivable communication systems. With a workforce of over 5,000 at NAS Patuxent River, per the base’s official site www.navair.navy.mil/nas-pax, PMA-271 plays a key role in this effort.
As Davis takes command, the focus shifts to fielding the E-130J, ensuring the Navy’s deterrence capabilities evolve to meet emerging threats.
