Released by the Naval Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake Public Affairs Office--

By Steve Boster

Recognizing 43 years of exceptional service to the United States, Richard (Tim) Horton recently received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award from Rear Admiral Mark Skinner, Commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. Admiral Skinner in making the presentation praised Horton for “extraordinary leadership and keen insight as the head of the NAWCWD Aircraft Survivability Division.”

This award is the highest honor the NAWCWD Commander can bestow on a civilian employee of the Navy.

His peers and superiors have long recognized Horton as an expert in improving the combat survivability and combat effectiveness of military aircraft. Horton also became the first Executive Director of the Joint Technical Coordinating Group on Aircraft Survivability and led the charge in forming the Joint Live Fire (JLF) program that subjects new combat aircraft to rigorous testing, and the Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office. Today, aviators from all branches of the U.S. military continue to reap the benefits of enhanced aircraft survivability that Horton helped bring about.

Building on the personal experience of two combat tours in Vietnam, Horton’s efforts that bolstered combat effectiveness and survivability have saved the lives of our warfighters who took their planes in harm’s way. He led the efforts to make major improvements in the facility used to evaluate the survivability of every major aircraft platform used by today’s Navy and Marine Corps aviators. Horton’s skilled leadership and proven ability to guide and inspire members of his team were great assets to NAWCWD in gaining approval for a new survivability tests facility now under construction.

In the nomination for the award, Horton was praised for his “key leadership qualities and strategic vision” that have been instrumental in maintaining the cutting edge technology that drives both effectiveness and survivability of modern front-line combat aircraft.

The award not only honors the technical achievements of more than 40 years service, but also recognizes that Horton was a mentor to many young professionals. He provided not only positive guidance and inspiration for his team, but showed concern for the people as he helped their careers progress. These attributes that he passed on to young professionals, helped produce many of today’s key leaders at NAWCWD and beyond.

As Admiral Skinner said of Horton in his presentation, “your keen insight and sound recommendations directly contribute to the success of NAWCWD and Naval Aviation.”

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Cutline: Rear Adm. Mark Skinner, Commander Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, congratulates Tim Horton (right) on earning the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.