NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland – Colleagues, friends and family gathered to witness a change of command for the E-6 Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) June 20 during a ceremony here.

Capt. Dana Dewey, PMA-271 program manager, was relieved by Capt. Kyle Karstens, the former chief of staff to Program Executive Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault and Special Mission programs (PEO(A)).

Dewey leaves PMA-271 to serve as a program director for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Crystal City, Virginia.

Vice Adm. Joseph Rixey, Defense Security Cooperation Agency director, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.

“Coming here is like coming back to the family,” Rixey said. “I want to thank Dana’s and Kyle’s families for their unending support and love they have given them over their careers. Both have been away from their families during deployments and time in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Rixey praised Dewey and the PMA-271 team for their many accomplishments.

“Over the past three years, Dana has provided outstanding leadership to this diverse, multi-site team of more than 300 people across four different sites around the country,” Rixey said. “The team improved aircraft availability by fifteen percent. They established a new depot maintenance line for the aircraft and secured military construction funding for new hangars at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The fleet Dana leaves behind today sits at full-operational capability, ahead of the scheduled requirement.”

After taking command of the program office, Karstens thanked his family, friends and promised the 271 team he’d give them all the support they needed to keep this vital national asset flying.

“To the PMA-271 team, I’m humbled to be here before you. You’re this awesome team of talent and passion,” said Karstens. “The mission of the E-6 is as important today as ever. The dedicated efforts of the people in 271 and from our industry partners is the reason I wanted to come back here. I’m excited to be here and ready to be your servant leader.”

A native of Audubon, Iowa, Karstens is a graduate of Iowa State University and is an Eagle Scout. He was commissioned through the Aviation Officer Candidate School in November 1989 and earned his naval flight officer wings in March 1991.