PATUXENT RIVER, Maryland -- Marine Lt. Col Richard Marigliano receives the squadron’s flag from Navy Cmdr. Timothy Burke during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, April 21. Marigliano assumed command of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 from Burke after having served as HX-21 chief test pilot since October 2014.

 During Burke’s tenure as commanding officer, the squadron safely flew nearly 4,000 test flights -- more than 6,000 flight hours -- and conducted more than 19,000 ground test hours in support of developmental test and evaluation for all Navy and Marine Corps rotary wing and tilt-rotor aircraft. These included the first flight of the CH-53K King Stallion and testing of digital rocket launchers on MH-60R/S Seahawks.

 In addition, HX-21 tested presidential helicopter communication suite upgrades, aircraft survivability equipment upgrades, MV-22B Osprey formation wake improvements, upgrades to the AH-1W Cobra 20mm gun, MH-60R automated information system upgrades, MH-60S airborne mine countermeasures capabilities, AH-1Z and UH-1Y engine upgrades, cockpit upgrades for every aircraft type, helmet display and targeting system upgrades to the AH-1W and MH-60S, foreign military sales support and dynamic interface testing aboard ships.

 Established in 1949 as the rotary wing section of the flight test division of Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, HX-21 was formally established as a squadron in 2002. Conducting rotary-wing and tilt-rotor developmental flight test in support of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard acquisition and fleet support programs, HX-21 has 84 Sailors and Marines and 24 government civilians. Its test teams are supported by over 100 government and industry engineers and field service representatives. The squadron's 32 aircraft, consisting of 10 different type/model/series, are maintained by over 350 contract maintenance personnel.