NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Highlighted by a shift in leadership, to civilian from military, the Navy’s Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209) held a change-of-command ceremony June 19 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

Candace “Candy” Chesser, the former deputy for PMA-209 since September 2013, was elevated to program manager, succeeding Capt. Tracy Barkhimer, who retired from the Navy after 26 years of naval service.

“Take a look at the program and you’ll see a list of PMA-209 awards and accomplishments during my tenure as program manager — that list isn’t a testament to me,” Barkhimer said. “It’s to remind you that your spirit of excellence is being recognized by a broader naval and DoD community.”

Aligned under Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), PMA-209 provides the Navy and Marine Corps with products and support in the areas of communication and airborne networking, navigation and flight operations, and mission systems and sensors.

The program office will be in good hands under Chesser’s leadership, Barkhimer said.

“Today I’ve been given the opportunity to lead the PMA-209 team for the next three years,” Chesser told the audience gathered in the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett Building on base. “In my nine months aboard, it is evident that the team of the most competent subject-matter experts in the avionics arena. I look forward to working with our [aircraft] platform [program offices] to craft acquisition strategies to support more open methods of building and upgrading our avionics systems.”

Chesser, who previously served as the principal deputy program manager for the Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office (PMA-213) before transferring to PMA-209, is a veteran of the NAVAIR community. She began her government career at the Naval Electronic Systems Engineering Activity (NESEA) at nearby St. Inigoes, Maryland, in 1981, working there until 1994 when NESEA was terminated as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure process.

She held a variety of roles over the next decade, including program analyst in the Special Communications Requirements Branch of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD); acquisition manager supporting the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) at NAVAIR; operations officer in the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS) Program Office (PMA-268); and action officer for the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Air Programs with Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission Programs (PEO(A)).

Chesser graduated from the University of Maryland University College in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in technology and management. She earned her Master of Science degree in project management from Florida Institute of Technology in 2010.

ABOUT “CANDY” CHESSER

TITLE: Program manager, Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA-209)

BIO: Chesser, who previously served as the principal deputy program manager for the Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office (PMA-213), started her federal government career as a GS-4 clerk typist, ascending through the civilian ranks to hold a variety of leadership positions at the Naval Air Systems Command, including program analyst in the Special Communications Requirements Branch of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD); acquisition manager supporting the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265); and operations officer in the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS) Program Office (PMA-268).

EDUCATION: Graduated from the University of Maryland University College with a bachelor’s degree; earned her master’s in project management from Florida Institute of Technology.

PMA-209 MISSION: PMA-209 provides the Navy and Marine Corps with products and support in the areas of communication and airborne networking, navigation and flight operations, and mission systems and sensors.