Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. Naval Air Station Patuxent River will participate in the annual Navy-wide force protection exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain from Jan. 26 through Feb. 6, 2026. The exercise, designated CSSC26, is conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command across all Navy installations in the continental United States.
“Pax River joins Navy bases across the region and country in training to protect our personnel and mission from possible attack,” said NAS Patuxent River Commanding Officer Capt. Mark Zematis. “Of note is that the scale of this year’s CSSC exercise is expected to be bigger than the previous year, but our Security and Emergency personnel will try to mitigate impact to the base. Even so, traffic delays should be expected by all on base.”
Citadel Shield comprises the first week as a field training exercise led by Commander, Navy Installations Command. Solid Curtain follows in the second week as a command post exercise led by U.S. Fleet Forces Command. This two-part structure enhances readiness of Navy security forces and ensures interoperability among commands, other services and agency partners to protect life, equipment and facilities. The exercise is regularly scheduled and not held in response to any specific threat.
Measures aim to minimize disruptions to local communities and normal base operations. Increased traffic around bases, delays in base access and brief gate closures are possible at NAS Patuxent River. Area residents may observe or hear security activities. Advanced coordination occurred with local law enforcement and first responders. Base residents and personnel must avoid posted exercise areas.
NAS Patuxent River, located in St. Mary’s County, serves as a major employer and economic driver in Southern Maryland. The installation supports naval aviation research, development, test and evaluation, employing thousands of military, civilian and contractor personnel from surrounding counties including St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles. Annual exercises like Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain maintain security readiness at this critical facility while addressing potential impacts on local traffic and access routes. Previous iterations have caused temporary delays, as noted in regional reporting, prompting reminders for patience during training.
For updates on potential impacts, follow NAS Pax River on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NASPaxRiver, Twitter at www.twitter.com/NASPaxRiverPAO and Instagram at www.instagram.com/nas_patuxent_river/. The exercise underscores ongoing commitment to force protection at the base, which remains integral to Southern Maryland’s defense and aerospace sectors.