Winners of the 2026 Commander’s Awards pictured. The ceremony took place at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, on September 1, recognizing innovative teams, individuals accelerating capability and readiness.
2026 Commander’s Awards recognize innovative teams, individuals accelerating capability and readiness
Vice Adm. John Dougherty, commander of Naval Air Systems Command and Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation, recognized individuals and teams across nine categories at the 26th annual Commander’s Awards ceremony September 1.
The awards align directly with the enterprises’ four core priorities—people, capability, readiness and running the business. Judges selected finalists from 87 competitive nominations exemplifying the innovative and collaborative spirit required to deliver affordable warfighting capability to the fleet. The winner of the prestigious Association of Naval Aviation’s Edward H. Heinemann Award was also honored.
“Today’s ceremony recognizes the best of the best,” said Dougherty. “Naval aviation is projecting power and deterring aggression across the globe because of you.”
Steve Cricchi, NAVAIR executive director, noted that the awards celebrate the contributions of the entire workforce.
“We’re here celebrating the output of some of our best teams and people,” he said. “They’re reflective of the whole organization and the contributions we’re making to capability delivery, readiness, workforce, industrial base.”
The 2026 Commander’s Award winners are:
AFFORDABILITY CATEGORY
Winner: AN/SSQ-53 Sonobuoys Competition Team
The Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Program Office (PMA-264) issued the first competitive delivery orders for AN/SSQ-53 Sonobuoys under their multiple award contract in May 2025. By securing multiple awards, the team kept the new industrial base healthy and achieved 55 percent cost savings for one contractor compared to the highest initial price in their flexible, long-term contract. These savings allowed the Navy to procure a monumental additional 100,000 AN/SSQ-53 Sonobuoys, boosting the fleet’s anti-submarine warfare readiness. The team also accelerated procurement timelines, issuing 16 orders in a record 22 days after receiving proposals.
AVAILABILITY CATEGORY
The EA-18G Growler team overcame challenges to exceed readiness targets in 2025, despite substantial operational demands. Key stakeholders across naval aviation and industry partners collaborated to tackle aging systems, supply chain bottlenecks and technical obsolescence. Leveraging naval sustainment system aviation principles, the Growler team met mission capable targets for 327 days and fully mission capable targets for 296 days.
By standing up organic depot capability two years early, the team accelerated repairs for Airborne Electronic Attack Systems Enhancement kits, resolving the platform’s number one maintenance roadblock. Furthermore, Fleet Readiness Center Northwest re-engineered workflows to increase pod production efficiency to a 93 percent ready-for-issue rate. These efforts ensured the Growler team achieved a perfect 12 months of sustained mission readiness.
Kimberly Priest, the EA-18G assistant program manager for logistics credited the victory to broad collaboration that ensured “our airborne electronic attack capability and the aircraft itself were ready and available for the fleet when they needed to support missions.”
BUSINESS INNOVATION CATEGORY
Winner: Adversary and Specialized Aircraft Program Office (PMA-226) Contract Air Services Team
E-6B Mercury flight hour shortfalls from fatigue jeopardized National Nuclear Command and Control capabilities, prompting the Commander, Naval Air Forces, to request an urgent in-flight trainer. The PMA-226 Contracted Air Services Team collaborated with Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) and Strategic Communications Wing 1 to pioneer an innovative acquisition strategy to procure a contractor-owned, government-operated aircraft to support E-6B training requirements.
Demonstrating exceptional agility, the team awarded a contract to Kira AAR Logistics Services for flight hours on a Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft 18 days ahead of schedule. The Boeing 737's cockpit interface mirrors the E-6B, enhancing training realism and maintaining pilot qualifications while reducing wear and tear on operational E-6B aircraft. By streamlining contracting processes and coordinating daily progress reviews, the team transitioned from contract award to live flight operations in under three months, supporting vital pilot and aircraft readiness.
‘GET REAL, GET BETTER’ CATEGORY
Winner: Fleet Readiness Center (FRC) Mid-Atlantic
FRC Mid-Atlantic earned recognition for its exceptional commitment to readiness recovery and production excellence. Over the past 18 months, FRC Mid-Atlantic confronted significant backlogs and equipment availability challenges with an aggressive, disciplined recovery strategy. Through focused optimization, the team slashed its overall backlog by 60 percent, reducing the total workload from 2,045 work orders to 820. Most critically, the team cutt “black time to reliably replenish” work orders by 76 percent while simultaneously dramatically increasing support equipment availability from 54 to 82 percent.
MOST COLLABORATIVE INTEGRATED PRODUCT TEAM (IPT) LEAD CATEGORY
Comerford exemplified collaboration and leadership as she guided a diverse IPT through the rapid acquisition of the Precision Attack Strike Munition, the United States Marine Corps’ top-priority air-to-ground weapon system. Comerford spearheaded the development of a first-of-its-kind helicopter-launched cruise missile, meeting the fleet's critical need date of September 2027. Her innovative program brought together major contractors, smaller companies and government agencies to deliver a comprehensive combat solution, including aircraft modifications, a new launch system and munition procurement. Comerford orchestrated seven simultaneous contracting efforts, alongside the integration of government-furnished software and equipment integration. Her leadership guided the IPT through a competitive munition selection process on an exceptionally compressed timeline, enabling a swift transition from prototyping to production, expanding frontline lethality.
Comeford explained she strives to always empower her team. “One of the things I try to do is make sure that my team feels empowered and supported,” she said. “The fact that I was even nominated shows that my team feels valued.”
MOST IMPACTFUL SUPERVISOR CATEGORY
While Anderson has been recognized for resolving major contractor obligations, hiss greatest impact is reflected in the success and professional growth of his employees. Anderson demonstrates care, flexibility and strong leadership, prioritizing employee well-being and fostering a supportive, respectful environment. His structured coverage system ensures seamless operations and allows staff to take leave without concern. He actively listens to his team, empowers them to make decisions and implements meaningful improvements based on feedback, which strengthens processes and drives innovation. His mentorship has led to significant achievements, including guiding one employee to a Meritorious Civilian Service Award and helping others to advance into key leadership roles. Through clear communication, fairness and accountability, Anderson builds trust and alignment. He does not simply manage people; he develops future leaders who will sustain naval aviation’s excellence and readiness.
SPEED OF CAPABILITY DELIVERY CATEGORY
Winner: Advanced Arresting Gear Uninterruptible Power Supply/Energy Dump Repair Team
The Advanced Arresting Gear Uninterruptible Power Supply/Energy Dump Repair team showcased exceptional innovation and problem-solving to resolve critical challenges onboard the USS Gerald R. Ford. Faced with catastrophic electrical flash events in the arresting gear’s main power system and failures in the backup power, the team rapidly identified root causes, implemented effective mitigations and introduced new procedures to ensure system reliability and operator safety.
The team redesigned system, established emergency isolation procedures and validated solutions during subsequent events, all while maintaining open communication with leadership and stakeholders. Despite the complexity and tight timelines, the team restored the Advanced Arresting Gear System's availability, enabling the Ford’s successful deployment and directly supporting the Navy’s warfighting capability and operational requirements.
TECHNICAL INNOVATION CATEGORY
Winner: EA-18G Growler Block II Beowulf Team
The Growler Block II Beowulf team achieved a revolutionary breakthrough in 2025 with the successful first flight of the prototype ALQ-264 system - an advanced multi-function array integrated into the inboard leading-edge flap of the EA-18G. Installing and flying a digital active electronically scanned array sensor in a load-bearing, moveable flight control surface marked a first in tactical aviation history.
Over six years, the Beowulf team overcame significant technical challenges in miniaturizing digital radio frequency processing, thermal management, and executing advanced manufacturing and quality assurance. The team demonstrated a prototype sensor that strengthens fleet lethality and operational flexibility against complex, peer threats.
“Beowulf is a massive technical leap for the Growler,” said Cmdr. Mike Mabry, integrated product team co-lead, describing the technology as “an advanced, next-generation technology we’re putting in the Growler, the sending technology we need to fight and win today and in the future.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY
Winner: Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209) Avionics Architecture Team
To support the growing focus on expanding strategic advantage through Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the PMA-209 Avionics Architecture team designed and delivered targeted training to resolve a gap in MOSA expertise. MOSA is a strategic design method that uses standardized open interfaces, allowing the military to easily upgrade, swap, or integrate new components without having to redesign the entire platform.
In 2025, the team trained numerous software and hardware engineers in hands-on MOSA sessions covering open standards, interface design and integration concepts. The sessions greatly enhanced the ability of program managers, engineers and integrators to design rapidly integrated systems aligned with DoW acquisition transformation goals. The training fostered collaborative efforts with other SYSCOMS and military services, helping to deliver cutting-edge technologies to the frontline units faster than ever before.
EDWARD H. HEINEMANN AWARD
Winner: F/A-18 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS) Integration Team
The F/A-18 AGCAS Integration team successfully integrated the automatic terrain awareness and warning system into the F/A-18 Hornet. This is a monumental leap in aviation safety and directly upholds the tradition of excellence this award celebrates. The F/A-18 AGCAS Integration team’s dedication has provided a critical safeguard for our aviators, ensuring the continued operational viability of a legendary aircraft. Confronting controlled flight into terrain, one of tactical aviation's most unforgiving hazards, the F/A-18 AGCAS integration team delivered a life-saving solution through technical brilliance, rigorous testing and unprecedented collaboration.
Vice Adm. John Dougherty, commander of Naval Air Systems Command and Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation, recognized individuals and teams across nine categories at the 26th annual Commander’s Awards ceremony.