NAVAIR

Capt. Jaime Engdahl is the program manager for Unmanned Combat Air Systems program office (PMA-268) 

Engdahl is a native of Hayward, Calif., graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering. He completed flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and was designated a Naval Flight Officer.

After completing training as an EA-6B Electronic Countermeasures Officer at Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 he reported to the “Zappers” of VAQ-130 where he served as tactical EA-6B Mission Planning System Officer, Schedules Officer, Line Division Officer and Aircraft Division Officer. From 1993 to 1995, he deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) to the Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. During his tour in VAQ-130 he took part in Operations Deny Flight, Vigilant Warrior, and Deliberate Force, where he flew more than 80 combat sorties and logged 250 flight hours in Iraq and Bosnia.

From 1995 to 1998, Engdahl attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md. He graduated with distinction in June 1998, was designated a Naval Test Flight Officer and received a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Engdahl reported to Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron in Patuxent River, where he served as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Project Officer, UAV Tactical Control System Project Officer and EA-6B Project Officer. In June 1999, he returned to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and served as a Systems Flight Instructor.

In May 2000, Engdahl served as the Assistant Air Operations Officer on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). During his tour, he deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.

Engdahl returned to Patuxent River in 2002 to the F/A-18 program office. During his tour in PMA-265, he was directly responsible for eight successful Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) program milestones, including the system operational test readiness decision, execution of independent operational test and evaluation, two early operational capability deployments to support the Global War on Terrorism, system production readiness review, system fleet introduction and initial operational capability, and the ATFLIR full rate production decision.

From June 2005 to September 2008, Engdahl was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, where he served as the EA-18G Government Flight Test Director. He was responsible for planning and executing a highly successful EA-18G Integrated Test and Evaluation program.

In October 2008, he became Deputy Program Manager for the E-6B Mercury Block I/IA Upgrade programs. He led the program through the transition from system design and development to production including Block I first flight, developmental and operational testing, low-rate production decision and entry into independent operational test and evaluation.

Engdahl has accumulated more than 1,800 flight hours as an F/A-18F & EA-18G Weapons System Officer and EA-6B Electronic Countermeasures Officer. His decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Medals-Strike Flight awards, five Navy Commendation Medals (two with Combat V), two Navy Achievement Medals and various unit and service awards.