NAVAIR alumnus takes reigns of organization responsible for providing student pilots and Undergraduate Military Flight Officers mission-critical aviation skills

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Maryland – A new program manager took the lead of the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems program office (PMA-273) in an early March ceremony.

Capt. Todd St. Laurent assumed command from Capt. Leon Bacon March 4 at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park, Maryland.

Following the change of command Bacon retired, culminating after 30 years of service in the U.S. Navy.

Prior to reporting for his command assignment, St. Laurent was the military director of the Mission Engineering and Analysis Department here.

St. Laurent graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1992. During his first sea assignment, he served in Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 (VAW-125), deploying to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Ashore he served as a Fleet Replacement Squadron instructor pilot, Crew Resource Management coordinator, and Student Production manager.

In 2002 he joined U.S. Second Fleet/ Striking Fleet Atlantic, where he served in the Air Operations Department and, subsequently, as a military assistant and flag aide to the deputy commander.

Following, he reported to VAW-123 “World Famous Screwtops” as the department head, completing assignments as safety officer and operations officer, and qualifying as Command Duty Officer Underway while deployed aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

St. Laurent reported to Naval Air Systems Command in 2006 where he was an Integrated Product Team lead for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye program, managing production and integration of the aircraft’s Electronic Support Measures, data-link, and Cooperative Engagement Capability systems.

In his following assignment, he reported as a deputy program director within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Sensors Directorate, where he managed technology development and demonstration efforts to advance aircraft survivability.

Also at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, St. Laurent served as deputy chief of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training Systems program where he was responsible for procurement and sustainment of Navy and Air Force T-6 Texan II aircraft.

From January 2014 through May 2015 St. Laurent was the executive assistant to the principal military deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development, and Acquisition).

St. Laurent is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III Program Management certified, Level II SPRDE - Systems Engineering, and Science & Technology certified.  He has been a member of the Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer community since 2009.  He is an Acquisition Corps Community member and a graduate of the Program Manager’s Course (PMT-401).

St. Laurent holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Control Systems Engineering; a Master of Business Administration; and a Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College nonresident program.

He has more than 2,800 flight hours and 190 carrier landings. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (3), and Navy Achievement Medal.

About Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems program office (PMA-273)

PMA-273 was chartered to develop a rigorous, diverse, carrier-capable Naval Flight Training System where student pilots and Undergraduate Military Flight Officers (UMFOs) acquire mission-critical aviation skills necessary to carry out current and future missions of the U.S. Navy.

The acquisition, development and maintenance of seven trainer aircraft fall under the purview of the program office for its customer, the Chief of Naval Aviation Training (CNATRA): T-45, T-6/JPATS, T-44, T-34, TC-12, TH-57, and T-39, as well as the UMFO program. These aircraft and programs also include related simulator suites, academic materials, computer-based training integration systems, and contractor logistics support.

About Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft PEO(T)

PEO(T) is a NAVAIR-affiliated program executive office that leads its assigned program managers, who are responsible for meeting the cost, schedule, and performance requirements of their assigned programs.