NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Naval Air Systems Command has recognized Michelle Passfeld, head of the Expeditionary and Range Systems branch in the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems division at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Webster Outlying Field, with the 2025 Supervisor of the Year Award for NAWCAD. The honor was announced Jan. 21.
The award celebrates supervisors who demonstrate exceptional leadership, cultivate positive workplaces, and deliver meaningful outcomes for the command and warfighters. Passfeld, previously named NAWCAD Patuxent River Supervisor of the Year, earned praise for her focus on teamwork, professional development, and mission support.
Blaine Summers, NAWCAD WOLF Executive Director, highlighted her approach. “Michelle leads with an emphasis on teamwork and motivates the members of her team to grow into the best versions of themselves in support of the mission,” Summers said. “Her hard work and dedication to growing the next generation of leaders is valued and appreciated.”
Passfeld began her career at NAWCAD WOLF in 1996, contributing to software and hardware development for air traffic control systems. Over two decades, she guided the creation and fielding of multiple ATC and range control systems that ensure safe operations in special use airspace for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
Since 2019, as branch head, she has overseen a team responsible for developing and sustaining safety-critical systems, including range control, expeditionary ATC, and radar processing and display technologies. Passfeld attributed the recognition to collective effort. “I enjoy my career here and know that what we do directly impacts warfighter mission success,” she said. “I am very proud to have been selected for this award, but this achievement is the result of a team effort. This team understands how connected we are to the mission, and they continue to make me proud.”
Her leadership philosophy centers on mutual respect and open communication to drive performance and morale. “Having a good relationship with your teammates and creating a healthy place to work is important because when you do, people will work hard to achieve the organization’s mission,” Passfeld said.
Nominated by her supervised team, Passfeld embodies the command’s leadership ideals. Glenn Hollander, a computer scientist in the ATC&LS division, nominated her for leading by example, prioritizing team well-being, and offering steady support. “Her commitment to fairness and genuine leadership style shapes how I see the rest of the organization in a positive way,” Hollander said. “I’ve worked for a lot of supervisors throughout my career, but with Michelle, she genuinely cares about her people. She communicates her expectations and always recognizes and celebrates our hard work, which helps sustain a motivated team.”
Hollander emphasized her dedication to mentoring. “Michelle fosters an environment in which teammates help uplift and push each other to learn,” he said. “She promotes team cohesiveness, ensuring that all team members are represented and are provided the opportunities to fulfil their potential. She encourages more experienced employees to mentor new or less experienced colleagues along the way.”
Passfeld actively supports career advancement. “If anyone on my team wants to become part of a leadership development program or rotation, I try to help them any way I can,” she said. “I always want to make sure everyone feels fulfilled. It helps them grow and helps our team at the same time.”
NAWCAD WOLF provides rapid, government-owned engineering solutions to Department of Defense, Homeland Defense, and intelligence community partners worldwide.
This recognition underscores the vital role of effective supervision in sustaining mission-critical capabilities at Southern Maryland installations like NAWCAD facilities in Patuxent River and Webster Outlying Field.