By John Goodman
NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

On May 24, NAVAIR’s Vice Commander, RDML Michael C. Bachmann presented the prestigious Edward H. Heinemann Award to the Tomahawk All-Up-Round Program Office (PMA-280) Tomahawk Team for “expeditious design, development, developmental/operational test and evaluation, production, and Fleet introduction of the Tomahawk Block IV Missile.”

The Block IV version of Tomahawk (TACTOM) has been called the most lethal weapon in the long-range precision-strike inventory today – more affordable, more accurate and longer ranging than its predecessor. Part of the team’s accomplishment was to bring the cost of the missile down by half from that of the Block III version.

“The Tomahawk team is humbled to win the Edward H. Heinemann Award – it is an incredible honor and recognizes the team effort it took to get the increased capability of TACTOM to the fleet,” said Capt. Bob Novak, PMA-280 Program Manager. That increased capability builds on a 30 year legacy – performing as designed and making it even safer for our troops on the ground and in the air.”

The Heinemann Award is presented annually to an individual or team in NAVAIR who has significantly contributed to the improvement of the design or performance of an aircraft or related weapon system. The Association of Naval Aviation created the award to honor one of aviation’s great combat aircraft designers.

As Chief Engineer for the Douglas Aircraft Company in the 1930s and later, Edward H. Heinemann’s team designs included: the SBD Dauntless (which sank more enemy tonnage in the Pacific than any other WWII craft or weapon), F3D Skyknight, A-4 Skyhawk, A-3 Skywarrior, F4D Skyray, F5D Skylancer, and several high-speed, high-altitude experimental aircraft.

“Mr. Heinemann’s legacy is designing aircraft that were tough enough to do the job and bring the pilot home safely,” said Novak. “There is no better feeling to know that we have contributed to saving the lives of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen.”

Runners-up for the 2004 award were acknowledged by Bachmann as “outstanding nominees” who “should be extremely proud of their efforts. You are all winners.” The runners-up were:

Edward B. Faillace for his individual efforts in contributing to significant improvements to the E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound fleets
Erica Gowen for her individual efforts in the development of a solution for the nose wheel steering problem that has been plaquing the T-45 for 13 years
David Cohen for his individual efforts in driving the VXX technical team to a fully justified source selection while operating in a high-visibility/high-pressure environment.

Caption:
Receiving the award from ANA President, RADM P.D. Smith, USN (Ret.) is CAPT Robert E. Novak, the team’s program manger.