Bruce Sharp, one of NAVAIR's pool of talented managers, has joined the federal government's elite corps of highly competent senior managers with leadership and management expertise, the Senior Executive Service (SES).

Vice Adm. Joe Dyer, commander of the Naval Air Systems Command, presented Sharp with his SES appointment in a ceremony on Oct. 22 at NAVAIR Patuxent River. Sharp is director of the Command's Tactical Aircraft Programs and Missiles Contracts Department.

Born in Washington, D.C., Sharp earned an accounting degree in 1978 from Bowie State College. He began his federal service at the Health Resources Administration, first as a co-op student and later as an accountant at the administration's Cost Advisory Branch.

Sharp joined the Naval Air Systems Command in 1981. During his career at the Command, he has supported the Navy fleet as a contract specialist and procuring contract officer for numerous NAVAIR aircraft programs. He has served as head of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Contracts Division, deputy director of the Policy and Management Department and deputy director of the Aircraft Support Contracts Department. NAVAIR programs that fell under Sharp's responsibility included the P-3 Orion, S-3 Viking, T-45 Goshawk, F-14 Tomcat and the H-60 and H-53 helicopters.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter.

Photo caption: Vice Adm. Joe Dyer, NAVAIR commander, presents Bruce Sharp with a plaque honoring Sharp's entry into the Senior Executive Service.