Vice Admiral Walter B. Massenburg, USN, received his third star and assumed command of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on 1 December 2003, at a small ceremony held in the Pentagon. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in his new rank and assignment on 25 November, Massenburg said, “It is my job to ensure that NAVAIR provides cost-wise readiness and dominant maritime combat power to make a great Navy/Marine Corps team better. I’m excited to get underway.”

NAVAIR develops, acquires and supports aircraft and weapons technology for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and the Department of Defense. Massenburg directs a workforce of 27,000 military and civilian program managers, engineers, acquisition experts, test pilots and logisticians in NAVAIR’s support of the Navy mission.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Vice Admiral Massenburg received his Bachelor of Arts degree in physics from Washington and Jefferson College and was commissioned in 1970. He completed flight training and received his Naval Aviator Wings in 1971. He received a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1978 and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 1990.

Operationally, Massenburg served his initial sea tour with Patrol Squadron 45, then as executive officer of the Naval Facility, Antigua, as operations officer of Patrol Squadron 45, and as executive officer and subsequently commanding officer of Patrol Squadron Six.

Ashore, he served in operational test with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One, as team leader of the commander, Patrol Wings Atlantic Tactical Training Team in Patrol Squadron 30, and as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations sponsored Antisubmarine Warfare Continuum in the office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel and Training. He was subsequently assigned to the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare) as the antisubmarine warfare aircraft inventory coordinator and, later, served on the staff of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the branch chief, Tactical Forces Branch in the Force Structure, Resources and Assessment Directorate.

Within NAVAIR, Massenburg has served in the Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Program Office as deputy program manager for the P-3 Anti-Surface Warfare Improvement Program and later assumed command of the Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Program Office. After promotion to rear admiral, he assumed leadership and management responsibility as assistant commander for logistics in 1999 and then as assistant commander for aviation depots in 2003.

While serving as the assistant commander for logistics, Massenburg helped create the Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement Program (NAVRIIP) where he acted as chief operating officer for the program. NAVRIIP is a comprehensive program to drive cost-wise readiness initiatives by identifying and reducing actual costs to naval aviation.

Massenburg’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and numerous campaign and service awards.