Mission:

The mission of Air Test & Evaluation Squadron Two Four (UX-24) is to conduct and support research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) in support of the Department of the Navy and warfighter needs. 

Supported Platforms:

UX-24 conducts RDT&E on Group 1-5 UAS, including RQ-23 Tigershark, MQ-25 Stingray, the MQ-9A Reaper and over 400 small UAS. 

Location:

Located at NAS Patuxent River, the squadron takes advantage of unique capabilities at both Trapnell Field and Webster Outlying Field including: 

• Integration with manned platforms in the Patuxent River Operating Areas 

• Direct entry into restricted operating areas; no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordination needed 

• Exclusive-use areas available for small UAS 

• Proximity to water for UAS maritime operations 

• Dedicated UAS operations center 

Capabilities:

UX-24’s team is comprised of experts in the unmanned aircraft test community from flight test engineers and air vehicle operators to United States Naval Test Pilot School graduates. In addition to supporting programs of record, the team also supports warfighter Urgent Needs Statements, Joint Forces, other government agencies and research institutions. To streamline UAS operations and test, UX-24 maintains the following: 

• A “Blanket” Category 3 Interim Flight Clearance that covers all government-owned Group 1 & 2 UAS operating with UX-24 at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) ranges for both land- and ship-based operations. 

• Close working relationships with Atlantic Ranges and Targets. 

• Airspace scheduling expertise to meet the customer’s needs from concurrent UAS operations to exclusive-use airspace. 

• Frequency spectrum management and/or oversight. 

Personnel reporting to, inquiring about or visiting UX-24 at Webster Field may reach the unit via the Administrative Office at (301) 995-8040.

Cmdr. Tyler Hurst

UX-24 Commanding Officer

A native of Bakersfield, CA, Commander Tyler Hurst graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Following commissioning, he completed flight training at NAS Kingsville, TX, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 2006.  After earning his wings he completed an instructor tour at the VT-21 “Redhawks” before transferring to NAS Lemoore and training in the F/A-18E Super Hornet. His first Fleet tour was with the “Argonauts” of VFA-147 where he completed deployments on the USS JOHN C. STENNIS and USS RONALD REAGAN in support of 7th Fleet operations, and Operations NEW DAWN and ENDURING FREEDOM in the 5^th Fleet AOR. In 2011, CDR Hurst was selected to attend the United States Naval Test Pilot School and Naval Postgraduate School as part of the TPS Cooperative program. At the completion of his training he was assigned to the VX-23 “Salty Dogs” Airborne Electronic Attack and Carrier Suitability Departments.  In 2016, he was assigned to the VFA-192 World Famous Golden Dragons as a Department Head where he completed two 7th Fleet deployments aboard the USS CARL VINSON.   Upon completion of his Department Head tour in 2018, CDR Hurst returned to VX-23 as the Carrier Suitability Department Head and redesignated as an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer. He has flown more than 2,500 hours in 34 different aircraft T/M/S and has over 600 carrier arrested landings.

Commander Hurst’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal and various campaign and unit awards.

Lt. Col. Jason Noll

UX-24 Chief Test Pilot

Lieutenant Colonel Jason N. Noll, a native of Kirksville, MO, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. Commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Class program in June 2008, he completed The Basic School Course 1-09 in June 2009 and immediately commenced flight training.

Following flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL, and Corpus Christi, TX, LtCol Noll earned his designation as a Naval Aviator in June 2011 and reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 for initial training in the MV-22B. Upon completion of initial training in the MV-22B, he received orders to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 561 in January 2012. Six months later he moved with the squadron and aircraft to transition the first V-22’s to Okinawa, Japan. On Okinawa, he served with both VMM-265 and VMM-262 conducting multiple deployments with the 31^st MEU. In June 2015 he reported to VMM-268 in Miramar, CA, and later transitioned to VMM-161 where he served as the Aviation Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer. Notable deployments include supporting humanitarian relief efforts in the Philippines during Operation Damayan with VMM-265 and Nepal for Operation Sahayogi Haat with VMM-262, alongside combat missions in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve during deployments with the SPMAGTF-CR-CC and 15^th MEU.

In 2019, LtCol Noll was selected for Test Pilot School Class 157 and subsequently served as the V-22 Integrated Test Team Government Flight Test Director between 2020 and 2023. At HX-21, he gained extensive experience in Test and Evaluation, executing flight tests across all major flight test categories.

Selected for a lateral transition to Aviation Acquisitions Officer, LtCol Noll assumed the role of MV-22 Program Integrator at the V-22 Joint Program Office (JPO) PMA-275 in May 2023. Here, he primarily led the MV-22 Inventory Management and Common Configuration initiatives. Following his selection for command of UX-24, LtCol Noll reported to the “Ghost Wolves” to assume the role of Chief Test Pilot.

LtCol Noll has flown more than 2200 flight hours in 23 different T/M/S aircraft including 478 Reduced Visibility Landings. He is a DAWIA qualified practitioner in Test and Evaluation and holds a Master's Degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School.

LtCol Noll's personal awards include an Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2), and Navy Achievement Medal.

Senior Chief Proceso Mejia

UX-24 Command Senior Chief

Born and raised in Angeles City, Philippines.  He immigrated to Everett, Washington in 2004, and enlisted into the U.S. Navy on November 21, 2006.  After graduating from RTC Great Lakes, he first served as a Storekeeper onboard USS BUNKER HILL (CG-52), where he earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification on a Ticonderoga-Class guided missile cruiser.  Senior Chief Mejia detached in May 2011 as a Logistics Specialist (LS) First Class Petty Officer.

In 2011, he reported to Center for Service Support Learning Site San Diego, CA as a Navy Enlisted Classification instructor.  During his tour, he was selected to assist the Naval Technical Training Center located in Naval Air Station Meridian, MS where he qualified and taught LS “A” School, graduating multiple classes.   He next served with the KESTRELS VFA-137, stationed in Lemoore, CA where he was selected to wear the gold fouled anchors of Chief Petty Officer in 2014.

In June 2014, he was selected as the Senior Enlisted Leader and first Sailor to report to Aviation Support Division (ASD) in Iwakuni, Japan.  Senior Chief and his team were the first group to establish an ASD in 40 years and a large contributor to the successful migration of all fixed-wing aircraft squadrons from Atsugi to Iwakuni, Japan.  He was later assigned to be the Supply Departmental Leading Chief Petty Officer onboard USS PIONEER (MCM-9) homeported in Sasebo, Japan.  During his tenure onboard, he and the MCM-9 crew were faced with the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, and was one of the only operational Mine Sweepers in the Fleet.  Additionally, his supply team won the COMNAVSURFPAC Logistics Readiness Award three times, contributing to his selection to Senior Chief Petty Officer.

In December 2021, he transferred to Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Yokosuka as the Senior Enlisted Leader for all distribution sites in Japan.  During his tour, he led a diverse group of 370 Military, U.S. Civil Service and Japanese Local employees, supporting over 200 DoD units in the INDO-PACIFIC region.  In March 2024, he was selected to the Command Program and assigned as the Command Senior Chief for AIRTEVRON TWO FOUR in June 2024.

Senior Chief Mejia has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various other unit, and personal awards.

David W. Roberts

Chief Test Engineer

Dave Roberts is a Chief Test Engineer with NAVAIR’s Flight Test Engineering Department. Mr. Roberts is a senior flight test technical specialist providing oversight, risk management, and test plan and report approval authority for Science & Technology maturation/demonstration, experimentation, and program of record Unmanned Aircraft System test programs.

In this position since 2009, he helped stand-up the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Directorate (now UX-24) at Webster Field under Naval Test Wing Atlantic. Prior to working as the Chief Test Engineer for UAS test programs, Mr. Roberts was the Chief Test Engineer at the Atlantic Test Range for 6 years, starting in 2003, working both manned and unmanned test programs; during this period he also helped oversee off-site testing and consulted on various special projects. He previously conducted aircraft/stores compatibility testing for 12 years on rotary and fixed wing aircraft, supervising a branch of 24 engineers and technicians for 6 of the 12 years; during this time conducting store separation testing, Dave helped pioneer test methodology for air-launched UAVs from C-12, P-3, and C-130 aircraft.

For his first two years at NAVAIR, Dave was a project engineer testing aircraft ground support equipment both shore based and at sea. Prior to working for the Naval Air Systems Command, Mr. Roberts worked for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command on the M1A1 tank test program as a cooperative education student trainee at Aberdeen Proving Ground.  He has 34 years of experience with the U.S. Department of Defense in test and evaluation engineering.  Mr. Roberts was also a part-time lecturer with Johns Hopkins University for 7 years, teaching undergraduate Fluid Mechanics in the Mechanical Engineering department.

Mr. Roberts has represented NAVAIR at national and international symposiums by presenting technical papers at SFTE, IEEE, ITEA, JOCG, and NATO conferences. An active member of the Patuxent River SFTE chapter since 1999, he has presented papers at international symposiums in the U.S. and Europe. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1989 and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Tech in 1995.

UX-24 Points of Contact

UX-24 Administrative Office: (301) 995-8040