LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County and the commanding officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River will convene a joint meeting Oct. 7, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum at 22156 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park. The gathering continues a tradition of coordination between local government and the military installation, which employs about 20,000 personnel and drives much of the county’s economy.
Commissioner President James R. “Randy” Guy, a third-term leader who took office in 2014, emphasized the session’s value in his statement. “Our partnership with Naval Air Station Patuxent River is vital to the success and prosperity of St. Mary’s County,” Guy said. “These joint meetings provide an important opportunity to strengthen our collaboration, address shared priorities, and continue working together to support our shared community.” Guy, a Clements resident and former Air Force member who opened Southern Maryland Pools and Spa after his service, represents the county’s blend of rural heritage and defense-driven growth.
Capt. Mark Zematis, who assumed command of the 6,400-acre base in July 2025, echoed the sentiment. “These meetings are a great example of the working relationship we enjoy with our community partners in St. Mary’s, and offer us another way to share information and collaborate with county leadership,” Zematis said. A 2000 U.S. Naval Academy graduate from Barkhamsted, Connecticut, Zematis previously served as the base’s executive officer since January 2024 under the Navy’s Fleet-Up program. His tenure follows Capt. Douglas Burfield’s 27-year career, marked by a Legion of Merit for enhancements in infrastructure and community ties.
The agenda covers four topics central to the county’s development and the base’s operations. First, participants will discuss the Air Installations Compatible Use Zone study, a federal program that maps noise contours and accident potential zones around military airfields to guide land use. St. Mary’s County, home to the base since 1943, updated its AICUZ policies in 2023 to include disclosures in rental agreements and lower speed limits near military housing, addressing resident concerns over flight noise that can exceed 75 decibels in some areas. The ongoing study, required every five years under Department of Defense rules, evaluates how residential and commercial growth—up 15 percent since 2010—affects base missions like aircraft testing.
Next, the group will review the St. Mary’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan update, launched in October 2024 to replace the 2010 version. Titled “Charting Our Tomorrow,” the plan outlines strategies for land use, economic development, housing, transportation and resource protection through midcentury. It responds to a population nearing 115,000, fueled by base jobs and commuting to Washington, D.C. Public input has included visioning sessions and online surveys, with goals to preserve over 500 miles of shoreline, support agriculture and direct growth to areas like Lexington Park. The Department of Land Use and Growth Management leads the effort, aiming for adoption by late 2026 to align with state mandates under Maryland’s Planning Article.
A presentation from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School follows, highlighting its role in training elite aviators. Established in 1945 at the base, the school has graduated nearly 30,000 students, including 29 NASA astronauts like John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. Class 166 completed its 11-month curriculum in June 2025, with 19 naval aviators among 32 graduates from U.S. services and international partners. Four recent alumni—Lt. Cmdr. Erin Overcash, Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Lawler and others—joined NASA’s 2025 astronaut class, underscoring the program’s pipeline to space exploration. The school uses aircraft like the T-38C and UH-60L for envelope expansion flights, contributing to innovations in naval aviation.
Finally, discussions will touch on the airport and runway extension at Trapnell Field, the base’s airfield with runways up to 11,000 feet supporting F-35 and helicopter testing. While specific 2025 extension plans remain under review, the airfield handles over 200,000 operations annually, per Federal Aviation Administration data. Upgrades focus on safety and capacity amid rising test demands, with environmental assessments ensuring compliance near the Patuxent River. The base’s airfield, part of Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, supports $8.5 billion in annual economic impact for Southern Maryland.
The public is welcome, and the meeting will be recorded for replay on St. Mary’s County Government TV Channel 95 and on-demand via the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@StMarysCoGov. Decisions and documents appear in BoardDocs on the county website. Accommodations requests go to the Public Information Office at 301-475-4200, extension 1340.
These joint sessions, held semiannually since at least 2023, trace to the base’s founding during World War II as a testing hub for Grumman Wildcats. St. Mary’s County, Maryland’s first settlement in 1634 at St. Clements Island, has evolved from tobacco farms to a tech corridor with 25,000 defense jobs. The CSMC, comprising Guy and district commissioners Eric Colvin, Michael L. Hewitt, Mike Alderson Jr. and Scott R. Ostrow, oversees a $250 million budget emphasizing low taxes and preservation. Commissioners meet Tuesdays at 9 a.m. in Leonardtown’s Chesapeake Building, with agendas at www.stmaryscountymd.gov/csmc.
NAS Patuxent River, under Naval District Washington, employs civilians and contractors alongside active-duty personnel, testing systems for 90 percent of Navy aircraft. Partnerships like this one aid initiatives such as the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, formed in 2007 to counter encroachment.r.
