NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The integrated product manager for Australian Foreign Military Sales with the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) was recently chosen as the 2012 Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific Pilot of the Year.

Lt. Cmdr. Michael “Jockey” Lisa received the award for his efforts integrating the EA-18G Growler into carrier-based operations while assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141, at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash.

Lisa was notified of his selection March 27 and will receive the award at the Tailhook Association Reunion in September.

“Lisa’s success is directly connected to the actions he displays,” said Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft at NAVAIR, which oversees PMA-265. “He understands the significance of getting a capable and proven aircraft to the fleet and was an integral part of that mission. He is a dedicated and effective officer and is very deserving of this great accomplishment.”

Lisa has been a part of many “firsts” for the EA-18G. Before VAQ-141, Lisa was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at NAS Patuxent River, where he took the Growler through Initial Operational Test and Evaluation and piloted the first Growler aircraft carrier arrested landing aboard USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) in 2008.

While at VAQ-141, Lisa planned, led and executed the full spectrum of modern combat operations, from counter insurgency operations in support of international allied forces to advanced threat scenarios to employing tactics that explored the full capabilities of the platform and weapon systems, the citation read. Additionally, he communicated critical lessons learned to the larger electronic attack community, by personally authoring 108 pages of in-depth EA-18G operational and tactical lessons learned that garnered widespread attention from senior Navy leadership to the operator level.

“Lieutenant Commander Lisa is very deserving of the award,” said Capt. Frank Morley, PMA-265 program manager “Not many aviators have the unique experience of being an integral part of test and evaluation of a new aircraft and then being a part of integrating the aircraft into the fleet for operational missions.”

Lisa also led every stage of the organizational transition when the squadron moved from Whidbey Island to Japan in February 2011. He served as the squadron’s VAQ-141’s maintenance officer for two years and established a rigorous approach to quality processes and program adherence resulting in the squadron achieving the best aviation maintenance inspection marks that Commander, Naval Air Forces inspectors had seen in three years according to the award citation.

“Clearly, Lisa stands out as the driver behind VAQ-141's operational successes,” said Cmdr. Ben Clarke, commanding officer of VAQ-141. “He thoroughly prepared his department and our squadron for every challenge that he knew was coming and demonstrated a remarkable resilience, flexibility and agility in responding to every contingency.”

Lisa said he was humbled by the award and attributes his selection to the help and guidance he received from his squadron.

“An individual award is representative of the command,” Lisa said. “In my case, the chiefs and the mustangs [commissioned officers who began their careers as enlisted service members] were instrumental in the success of the command.”

He was especially grateful to his VAQ-141 teammate and Operations Officer Lt. Cmdr. Mehdi Akacem.

“Everything I did as a pilot, he did as an NFO [naval flight officer],” said Lisa.  “He is brilliant as a test guy and our different areas of expertise combined to enhance the capabilities of the Growler.”

Lisa continues to support the EA-18G and airborne electronic attack while attached to PMA-265.