Vice Adm. John Dougherty, commander of Naval Air Systems Command, honored winners across nine categories at the 26th annual NAVAIR Commander’s Awards ceremony Sept. 1 at Patuxent River — a St. Mary’s County tradition that has recognized the command’s top teams and individuals since the late 1990s. Judges selected this year’s winners from 87 nominations. “Today’s ceremony recognizes the best of the best,” Dougherty said. “Naval aviation is projecting power and deterring aggression across the globe because of you.”
Affordability: The AN/SSQ-53 Sonobuoys Competition Team, working under the Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Program Office (PMA-264), issued the first competitive delivery orders for the sonobuoys under a new multiple-award contract, securing 55% cost savings from one contractor and freeing up funding to buy 100,000 additional sonobuoys for the fleet’s anti-submarine warfare mission. The team also issued 16 orders in a record 22 days after receiving proposals.
Availability: The EA-18G Growler team hit mission-capable targets for 327 days and fully mission-capable targets for 296 days in 2025 despite aging systems and supply chain bottlenecks, standing up organic depot repair capability two years ahead of schedule and pushing pod production efficiency to a 93% ready-for-issue rate — a stretch team members described as 12 months of sustained mission readiness. “Our airborne electronic attack capability and the aircraft itself were ready and available for the fleet when they needed to support missions,” said Kimberly Priest, EA-18G assistant program manager for logistics.
Business Innovation: The Adversary and Specialized Aircraft Program Office (PMA-226) Contracted Air Services Team responded to an urgent request tied to E-6B Mercury flight-hour shortfalls affecting national nuclear command and control training, awarding a contract for a Boeing 737 in-flight trainer 18 days ahead of schedule and moving from contract award to live flight operations in under three months.
“Get Real, Get Better”: Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic cut its production backlog 60% over 18 months, reducing outstanding work orders from 2,045 to 820, while boosting support equipment availability from 54% to 82%.
Most Collaborative IPT Lead: Mary L. Comerford led the rapid-acquisition team behind the Precision Attack Strike Munition, the Marine Corps’ top-priority air-to-ground weapon system, coordinating seven simultaneous contracting efforts to develop a first-of-its-kind helicopter-launched cruise missile ahead of a September 2027 fleet deadline. “One of the things I try to do is make sure that my team feels empowered and supported,” Comerford said. “The fact that I was even nominated shows that my team feels valued.”
Most Impactful Supervisor: Eric B. Anderson was recognized for mentorship that helped guide one employee to a Meritorious Civilian Service Award and others into leadership roles, alongside a structured coverage system that lets staff take leave without operational gaps.
Speed of Capability Delivery: The Advanced Arresting Gear Uninterruptible Power Supply/Energy Dump Repair Team resolved catastrophic electrical flash events aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, redesigning the system and establishing new emergency isolation procedures in time to support the carrier’s deployment.
Technical Innovation: The EA-18G Growler Block II Beowulf team achieved the first flight of a prototype ALQ-264 system, an advanced sensor array built into the Growler’s moveable leading-edge flap — the first time a digital sensor of its kind has flown in a load-bearing flight control surface, following six years of work on miniaturization and thermal management. “Beowulf is a massive technical leap for the Growler,” said Cmdr. Mike Mabry, the program’s integrated product team co-lead, calling it technology “we need to fight and win today and in the future.”
Workforce Development: The Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209) Avionics Architecture Team built hands-on training to close a skills gap in Modular Open Systems Approach design, a method that lets the military upgrade or swap components without redesigning entire platforms, training engineers across multiple commands and services.
Edward H. Heinemann Award: Sponsored by the Association of Naval Aviation, this year’s award went to the F/A-18 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System Integration Team, which integrated automatic terrain-awareness technology into the F/A-18 Hornet to help prevent controlled flight into terrain — one of tactical aviation’s most persistent hazards.
