Rear Adm. Bill Shannon,PEO U&W, gives remarks at the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office (PMA-262)change of command ceremony at Pax River, June 24.(L-R)Former program manager Capt. Bob Dishman,new program manager Capt. Jim Hoke and Father Raymond Schmidt look on.
New leadership for Persistent Maritime UAS
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md.—The Navy’s Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office (PMA-262) welcomed a new program manager during a change of command ceremony here June 24.
Capt. Bob Dishman, who served as program manager since the office’s inception in 2007, handed the reigns of command to Capt. Jim Hoke.
Guest speaker Real Admiral Bill Shannon commended Dishman for his strong leadership. “Your integrity, insightfulness and dedication have been remarkable,” he said. “You literally built the BAMS program from the ground up.”
Dishman led a 400-member combined military, civilian and contractor team. These individuals contribute to the development, production, fielding and sustainment of all persistent maritime unmanned aircraft systems, including the MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System—the Navy’s largest investment in unmanned systems—and the BAMS-Demonstrator, which has been deployed since 2009 to support operations in theater.
Under Dishman’s leadership, the MQ-4C BAMS UAS contract was awarded and the program recently completed critical design review. Dishman also guided the BAMS-D program in providing critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to Fifth Fleet operations from Central Command.
“You have an exciting and rewarding tour ahead of you,” Dishman informed Hoke. “You are inheriting a truly incredible team.”
Hoke, the former chief of staff for the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, previously completed acquisition tours within the Naval Aviation Training Systems program office (PMA-205) and the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office (PMA-290), both for the P-3 aircraft.
As the final Wing Commander for Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing FIVE in Brunswick, Maine, Hoke was responsible for the first operational deployment of BAMS-D, setting the stage for years of follow on BAMS-D and MQ-4C BAMS UAS deployments.
“Words cannot begin to fully express how humbled and honored I am to have this opportunity to serve as [the PMA-262] program manager during this period of change and transition,” Hoke said.