NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. — The Navy’s Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA-242) welcomed a new leader June 20 during a change of command ceremony here.

Capt. Albert Mousseau Jr., the former executive assistant to the commander of Naval Air Systems Command, relieved Capt. Brian Corey as PMA-242’s new program manager in a ceremony in the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett Building.

PMA-242 is responsible for the acquisition, development and sustainment of weapon systems, including Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM); airborne rocket systems; precision guided munitions; airborne gun systems; and joint air-to-ground munitions.

Guest speaker Rear Adm. Mat Winter, who oversees the Navy’s Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons Program (PEO(U&W)) under which PMA-242 is organized, praised Corey’s accomplishments and leadership while emphasizing the importance of direct and time-sensitive strike weapons within the fleet.

“Capt. Corey's effective leadership, savvy business expertise and commitment to his people made a marked difference during his four year command tour, " Winter said. “The war fighting capabilities this team has produced and delivered are world class and utilized daily by our warfighters. I'm very proud of Capt. Corey and all the PMA-242 professionals for their dedication to mission and acquisition excellence.”

Mousseau previously worked in PMA-242 and was deputy program manager for PMA-242’s ARM and PEO(U&W’s) Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) Advanced Development Program Office.

 “I am incredibly excited to be your program manager,” Mousseau told the PMA-242 employees who gathered for the event. “It is clear you are dedicated to providing our warfighter with the systems they needs to execute their mission. While we will undoubtedly face our share of challenges, your resiliency, professionalism and commitment to a mission of excellence that you have demonstrated to date will be the foundation that ensures we are successful.”

After completing U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, the new program manager served as a weapons and F-14 project officer with Aircraft Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23. Mousseau has also worked with the F-35 Lightning II Program, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter Program. His acquisition tours include assignments at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif.’s, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31, as a special projects officer and later as an ARM project officer.

His other career highlights include serving as the Chief of Combat Operations in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Mousseau has logged more than 1,900 flight hours primarily in the A-6E and F/A-18 D/F. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is a U.S. Navy Test Pilot School graduate. He holds Master of Science degrees in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

Corey called his experience in PMA-242 “an incredible ride.”

“I have been lucky enough to serve with some true legends,” the departing program manager said. “The Direct and Time Sensitive Strike Program team is a fantastic group of professionals and has been instrumental to many of our successes. Every armed platform in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps has one of our guns sticking out of it. It has been a real honor and pleasure to work with this team for the last four years.”