NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Midshipmen from Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy saw some of the best naval aviation has to offer as part of their fall kick-off visit here on Nov. 3.

The event, hosted by the Program Executive Office Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)), is part of a 12-year partnership the organization shares with the academy.

PEO(T) has maintained a long, prosperous relationship with Leonard Hall, said Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft. The service members and civilians in PEO(T) value this partnership and are committed to assisting the midshipmen on their journey to success.

“The partnership is an amazing experience,” said Chasen Hughes, a senior at LHJNA. “We learn from them, and they learn from us.”

During the event, Leonard Hall midshipmen received a personal welcome from Gaddis, advice from members of PEO(T) and in-depth information on products such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, E-2D Hawkeye and the DoN Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures.

“For me personally, it’s the connections,” said Hughes. “When you come here and talk to people, you make the connections you need for a possible future career. I want to go into the military after I graduate, and I’m making a lot of connections here. I know I want to serve my country, be a lifer, but I have not made a decision on which service I'll join yet. I want to attend an academy and a lot of the officers I've met in PEO(T) through the partnership have helped me with that goal.”

As part of the partnership with LHJNA, members of PEO(T) support the academy throughout the school year by providing guest speakers, panel members, judges and mentors for the academy’s activities and students.

Suzanna Wisnieski, LHJNA head mistress, said she and the midshipmen look forward to the continued partnership with PEO(T), and the invaluable interaction with military members it brings.

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