Nov 19, 2012
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- Friends, family and colleagues welcomed a new commanding officer at Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Zero (VX 20) here Nov. 15.
Cmdr. Robert Polvino, a Naval Academy graduate, turned over command of the 420-member squadron to Cmdr. Jason Rider, an Alabama native during a ceremony at the unit’s hangar.
Rear Adm. Randy Mahr, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division commander, told the audience that under Polvino’s leadership the squadron delivered 6,600 sorties, was awarded the CNO’s Aviation Safety Award for 2011, and completed 21,260 maintenance actions and 1,220 configuration changes on the squadron’s aircraft.
“Your leadership and fellowship have left this command in a better condition than when you started your tour,” Mahr said. “There is no higher praise I can give you.”
Polvino’s next assignment is the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, Fla.
Before assuming command, Rider served VX-20 as the chief test pilot. He has flown more than 2,900 hours in 11 different Navy aircraft, including a combat tour during the 1998 Kosovo Conflict. He is a 1993 graduate of Auburn University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial and systems engineering.
"Your job is squarely at the business end of the acquisition chain,” Rider told his new command. “If that chain had a 'tip of the spear,' you would find it here in this test squadron.”
VX-20 has the most diverse aircraft inventory in the Navy, performing test and evaluation flights in 22 uniquely configured aircraft including the new P-8A Poseidon and E-2D Hawkeye.
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