By Denise Deon Wilson

The wait for two program managers from within the Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft (PEO-T) was longer then anticipated but the results were well worth it. Capt. Jeff Wieringa, F/A-18 Program Manager and Capt Pete Williams, F-14 Program Manager, were recently informed they have been nominated to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).

First commissioned in the U. S. Navy as an Ensign in 1976, Capt Jeff Wieringa is a long-time resident of the NAVAIR and the Hornet’s Nest.

Having been associated with the F/A-18 Strike Fighter Program (PMA265) for the past decade, Capt. Wieringa has served in a variety of leadership assignments within NAVAIR. He has managed the F/A-18 program for the past three years and prior to this assignment served as the Deputy Program Manager. In addition he held positions as the co-leader for the F/A-18E/F Integrated Program Team and the office of Executive Director for Operations in the Research and Engineering Department within NAVAIR.

Capt. Wieringa was designated as a Naval Aviator in 1977 and went onto complete two cruises each on the USS Ranger (CV 61) and the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as an A-6 Intruder pilot. He has since flown 40 different type of aircraft accumulating over 4000 flight hours and 534 carrier landing. He is a graduate of U.S Navy Test Pilot School class of 1993.

Capt Pete Williams first served a three year tour at NAVAIR in 1988 and returned in 1997 for tours within the F-14 Program (PMA241). Prior to his current position as the Program Manager, Williams served as the F-14 Class Desk Officer and the F-14 Deputy Assistant Program Manager, Systems Engineering (1988).

Fleet tours for Williams include serving as Air Boss aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and Commanding Officer for VF-143 deploying aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73). In addition Williams served as the Combat Direction Center Officer for Commander Carrier Group TWO (CCG-2), served as a department head in VF-31 and an instructor pilot in VF-101.

Capt Williams was designated a Naval Flight officer in 1977 and started his Naval career in the F-4 Phantom. He has accumulated over 3400 flight hours, including 2000 in the F-14 and logged over 840 carrier landings. He has attended TOPGUN and the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.

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