Naval Aviation serves America in the defense of freedom. This duty places Sailors and Marines in harm’s way, where they expect the unexpected. They need capable and reliable aircraft, weapons and systems; therefore, they depend on us for that reliability and capability so they can succeed in their missions and return home safely to their loved ones.
These words describe our purpose and what we do at the Naval Air Systems Command (NavAirSysCom). Our function is to develop, deliver and sustain aircraft, weapons and systems, but our focus constantly remains on two people — the Sailor and Marine.
With their safety and success at the forefront of all we do, a large part of our mission is the test and evaluation of the aircraft, weapons and systems they use. In the latest edition of The Hook magazine you’ll see a command profile on test squadrons that help translate the requirements, development and engineering side of our business into operational capabilities needed to defend freedom. This complex work requires the technical expertise of a military-civilian-contractor team who understand the immediate and future needs of the fleet.
As incredible as the aircraft and weapons are that we deliver, it’s really the people who offer their talents and skills to serve something greater than themselves, that make NavAir work. We care about our people, their careers and their potential -- and that includes the test pilot and test engineer team that plans and executes highly complex test and evaluation.
I realize a lot of junior officers (JOs) may not be familiar with NavAir and what we do, so let me tell you how we might cross paths. In your fleet squadron tour, you must maintain focus on your warfare specialty, getting weapons on target and proficiency in carrier ops. As you ponder your next tour, you should be aware that tremendous opportunity abounds in pursuit of a seat in U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS or TPS).
NavAir headquarters shares the same base with USNTPS on board NAS Patuxent (Pax) River, Maryland. If accepted to TPS, you’ll fly roughly 20 different kinds of aircraft, and after graduation, will be assigned to one of two Naval Test Wings. There you will conduct the world’s most challenging flight test over the high deserts at China Lake, the sea range at Point Mugu and the Atlantic Test Range at Pax River.
The squadrons of Naval Test Wing Atlantic and Naval Test Wing Pacific offer TPS graduates the opportunity to test some of the newest and most complex aircraft, systems and weapons in the world. But what impresses me is seeing the impact these men and women make by being out in front, serving as the first line of discovery, evaluation, and improvement for developmental and operational tests. These programs include the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, F/A-18 Super Hornet, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), MV-22 Osprey and the EA-18G Growler.
You will become project officers with significant responsibility for discovery and reporting on performance of emerging new capabilities for the fleet. You will plan and work fully integrated with civilian test engineers and industry test pilots and development teams. Your input is critical to ensure that the fleet’s needs are represented and that the new capabilities are incorporated into the aircraft properly and safely.
The primary mission of the test aircrew is to provide decision-quality data with critical evaluation and analysis to program managers and acquisition leaders in NavAir. Read on to see how Navy and Marine Corps test pilots, Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) and engineers make a ?difference for Naval Aviation. There can be a place for you here -- test pilot, test NFO or test engineer.