NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Capt. Tracy Barkhimer relieved Capt. Ralph Portnoy and became the new Program Manager Air Combat Electronics, PMA-209, following a change of command and retirement ceremony today in the atrium of the Rear. Adm. William A. Moffett building here.

Portnoy retires from the U.S. Navy after 26 years of service.

A native of Staten Island, New York, Barkhimer graduated from the State University of New York Maritime College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and a USCG Unlimited Tonnage, Any Ocean, Third Mates’ License and was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy.

Upon completion of flight school, she reported to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) Three in San Diego for Fleet Replenishment training in the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter.

She then reported to HC-11 in 1991, where she made two Western Pacific deployments with the USS Wabash and USS Camden in support of operations Desert Storm and Restore Hope and accumulated over 60 hours of combat flight time in Mogadishu, Somalia.

In 1994, Barkhimer reported to the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) in Washington D.C. and served as a congressional liaison officer for the U.S. Navy in the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill.

She was selected for the Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO) Program in 1997 and reported to Patuxent River Naval Air Station for the first of many assignments with Naval Air Systems Command.

Her tours include duty as the V-22 Osprey Avionics Systems Project Officer; H-3 Assistant Program Manager for Systems and Engineering; Assault Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead; F/A-18 EO/IR Deputy IPT Lead; Navy & Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems IPT Lead; Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) Source Selection team member, and the Deputy Director for Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft International Programs.

She also served as the MH-60S Program Integrator and Government Flight Representative at Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Sikorsky in Stratford, Conn. from October 2001 to October 2004. While there, she completed a Master of Science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee and was recognized as the 2004 DCMA Outstanding Government Flight Representative.

In August 2006, she deployed as an Individual Augmentee (IA) to US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Doha, Qatar for seven months where she served as the Team Chief in the Joint Operations Center in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Most recently, Barkhimer served as Chief of Staff to Program Executive Officer, Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)) from August 2009 to April 2011.

Barkhimer’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for a single action.