In a ceremony held at the Pentagon, six Program Executive Office, Air, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)) were recognized by the annual Department of the Navy Acquisition Excellence Awards committee.  

The newly named Sean J. Stackley Acquisition Excellence Awards recognizes teams and individuals across the Department of the Navy (DON) for quality work and service that contributes to the Navy and Marine Corps. 

“I am grateful to the Department of the Navy awards team to be offered the opportunity to highlight our teams and individual team members’ hard work from the previous year and to be considered for recognition of their efforts,” said Neal Rothback, PEO(A) deputy program executive officer. “Each year I am humbled to learn that our PEO(A) teammates and programs are being honored at such an important event.” 

PEO(A) was awarded six of the 22 Acquisition Excellence Awards. Entries come from across the entire DON.  

“The men and women who are representing the programs today are some of the very best. PEO(A) is lucky to have each and every one of these exceptional people doing what they love to support those defending our country,” added Rothback, who was in attendance at the event. 

Events like this give the outstanding individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to deliver the best to our warfighters an opportunity to be recognized for their hard work. The DON awards team looks for healthy competition and innovation throughout the acquisition lifecycle, delivering rapid, affordable, high-performing capabilities to naval warfighters around the globe. 

The award winners from PEO(A):  

Program Manager of the Year - ACAT I – Col. Vasilios E. Pappas, PMA-276  

Col. Vasilios Pappas serves as the program manager for the United States Marine Corps USMC Light/Attack Helicopter Programs Office. During the timeframe February 2023 through January 2024, he led the program to multiple successes in aircraft delivery, overall improvements in H-1 readiness, and personnel management. His efforts resulted in the H-1 program achieving the longest sustained positive Mission Capable Aircraft Required (MCAR) and Fully Mission Capable Aircraft Required (FMCAR) rates in decades. Under his watch, the program delivered 12 aircraft to the Kingdom of Bahrain and delivered aircraft and training capability to the Czech Republic. He also implemented multiple initiatives aimed at providing a positive work environment for his personnel.  

Product Support Manager of the Year - ACAT I, Jordan M. Schmalz , PMA-271  

Jordan Schmalz has served as the product support manager for PEO(A)’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) since 2020. In that role, he leads a team of over 125 logisticians and executes an annual budget of $250 million. He provides product support for the sustainment of the 38-year-old E-6B Mercury – a low-density, high-demand asset – and acquisition of its successor, the E-130J, an Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1B effort. Both are critical to the nation’s nuclear deterrence.  

Schmalz excels as a leader in the program, helping to dramatically reduce the turnaround times for both fleet modifications and depot repairs, implementing a cost-per-flight-hour reduction effort that’s projected to save $14 million across the fleet life cycle, and conducting business case analyses for the E-130J air vehicle and power and propulsion systems that’s anticipated to save $1 billion through the life cycle of the fleet. Along the way, he consistently dedicates time and effort to mentoring and developing his personnel.  

Acquisition Professional of the Year - Life Cycle Logistics, Nicholas P. Kessel, PMA-261, CH-53K Assistant Program Manager for Logistics 

Nicholas Kessel demonstrated exceptional leadership, managerial acumen and mentorship across his team. Through his adept ability to communicate across the team and to external stakeholders, the team carried out several contract awards in excess of $179 million. He led the effort to award a Gearbox Organic Capability Establishment contract with Sikorsky. The award of this organic capability will provide the maintenance planning resources required in support of a new facility and support equipment to Fleet Readiness Center East to complete component pilot rework. 

Kessel epitomizes core values of honor, courage and commitment in everything that he does. He ensures that the team understands that the warfighter is the reason the team comes to work every day, providing them with the resources required to safely execute their missions. 

Acquisition Professional of the Year - Program Management, Anastasia D. Mack, PMA-274, VH-92A Deputy Program Manager  

Ana Mack distinguished herself through exceptional leadership and outstanding program management performance while serving as the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program Deputy Program Manager at the Presidential Helicopters Program Office (PMA-274). Her superior acquisition skills and business acumen have reduced program costs, fielded aircraft on time, and increased capability to create lasting benefits to the VH-92A Patriot program. Mack is an elite program management professional. She created a high-performing team culture, grounded in the Navy's core values.  

Acquisition Professional of the Year - Test & Evaluation, Lindsay C. Underwood, PMA-274, VH-92A Government Flight Test Director  

Lindsay Underwood distinguished herself as a world-class leader and exceptional test and evaluation professional while serving as Government Flight Test Director (GFTD) for the VH-92A Patriot Integrated Test Team (ITT) at PMA-274.  Her superior acquisition skills and developmental test acumen have reduced program costs and increased aircraft capability, creating lasting benefits to the VH-92A program. Underwood's invaluable and instrumental management of the VH-92A ITT ensured the on-schedule and successful completion of several high-priority, high-risk, and major joint test events supporting developmental test, operational test, and ultimately Presidential Helicopter mission commissioning. Her effective performance, leadership and collaboration enabled the ITT to accumulate 175.9 flight and 1578.2 ground mishap-free test hours; this work significantly reduced VH-92A program risk, while at the same time expanding important mission capabilities.   

Dr. Al Somoroff Acquisition Award, PMA-274, Presidential Helicopters Program Office Team  

PMA-274 distinguished itself through superior acquisition achievement in the accomplishment of its strategic, no-fail mission. PMA-274 lowered costs and ensured the VH-92A program performed to plan. The team created a world-class, organic, closed-loop, retail and wholesale supply chain, resulting in aviation-leading 98% supply effectiveness, 90% Mission Capable Aircraft Required, and 84% Fully Mission Capable Aircraft Required (both above the 80% fleet goals). The program management team actively mentors and guides the careers of employees, ensuring they improve their acquisition and leadership skills. 

“These individuals and teams have adopted the ‘Get Real, Get Better’ mindset by embracing the red, elevating barriers, thinking critically and building a climate of critical thinking and innovation. They exemplify the behaviors and approaches that will enable us to deliver the warfighting capability the fleet needs at a cost we can afford,” noted Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, Commander, NAVAIR, in his email to the command. 

Learn more about each of our PEO(A) program offices at https://www.navair.navy.mil/organization/PEO.