Capt. Patrick Murphy is program manager for the Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office (PMA-262) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland.

A native of New Baltimore, Michigan, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1999, earned his designation as a naval aviator in 2001, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (Class 129).

Upon completion of MH-53E Fleet Replacement training in 2002, he reported to the “Blackhawks” of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 in Corpus Christi, Texas. During his tour, he completed two deployments to the 5th Fleet of operation.

In 2006, Murphy transitioned to the Rotary Wing Test Squadron (HX) 21 at NAS Patuxent River where he served as the organic mine countermeasures project officer and accumulated 70 tow hours in the MH-60S. Murphy then transferred to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served as the assistant air operations officer and completed two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He then reported to the “World Famous Vanguard” of HM-14 in 2011 and served as the officer-in-charge of the Korea detachment and operations department head.

Murphy returned to NAS Patuxent River as the engineering class desk for the MH-53E at the H-53 Heavy
Lift Helicopters program office (PMA-261). In 2016, he returned to HM-14 to serve as the executive officer and then commanding officer. During Murphy’s time as the skipper, HM-14 earned two Battle “E” awards and the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award.

Murphy’s next assignment was for the Secretary of the Navy Tours with Industry Program where he was a fellow with an unmanned surface vessel company called Liquid Robotics. Following the fellowship, he took command of the “Sea Dragons” at HM-12, the MH-53E Fleet Replacement Squadron that would later earn the Commander Theodore G. Ellyson Aviator Production Excellence Award in 2021.

In Sept. 2021, Murphy returned to NAS Patuxent River to serve as the in-service deputy program manager for the H-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters program (PMA-261). Most recently, he served as the executive assistant to the Commander, Naval Air Systems Command.

Murphy has accumulated over 2,000 hours in over 15 types of aircraft and has over 450 tow hours.