Anthony Blankenship, deputy director, Test and Evaluation, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, and Gregory Imhof, director of test technologies, Naval Test Wing Atlantic, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, were recognized at the 70th annual Distinguished Civilian Service Awards ceremony at the Pentagon December 3.

This is the Department of War’s (DoW) highest award given to civilian employees whose careers reflect exceptional devotion to duty and honors performances considered extraordinary, notable or prestigious impacting the DoW as a whole.

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PAXUTENT RIVER, Md. – Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released the findings of a comprehensive review Dec. 12, 2025, on the V-22 Osprey aircraft flown by the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The review reaffirmed the airworthiness of the V-22 platform under established controls allowing the continued safe operations of this critical joint capability.

The first Air Force T-38 Talon aircraft arrived at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Nov. 24 for overhaul and repair as part of the Talon Repair, Inspection and Maintenance program (TRIM).

The TRIM program is an Air Force repair initiative that involves inspecting and replacing key structural components across the entire T-38 fleet, with the goal of extending the operational life of the aircraft by five to 10 years.

On July 23, Fleet Readiness Center Southeast achieved its first successful completion of an H-60 Seahawk utilizing Electronic Work Orders (EWOs), completing a Planned Maintenance Interval in just 113 days – seven days quicker than the average turnaround time for H-60s during the fiscal year.

On August 29, Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) completed its first depot-level repair of an F135 power module, establishing the command’s Initial Depot Capability (IDC). The power module is one of five major components powering the F-35 Lightning II engine.

FRCSE’s IDC status is crucial for supporting military aviation readiness and was designated in 2020 as one of two aviation depots to repair the F135 engine.

Vice Adm. John “Doc” Dougherty, IV assumed command of the Naval Air Systems Command Aug. 1. Dougherty relieved Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, who retired after 38 years of distinguished naval service. 

Under Chebi’s leadership, NAVAIR achieved and sustained the highest readiness levels in the history of naval aviation, identified over $3 billion in savings to reinvest in naval aviation priorities, and delivered capabilities that are changing the way the naval aviation trains and fights.  

Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) has inducted its first two T-45 Goshawk aircraft into the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) production line, 13 months after the Navy identified the requirement.

The Goshawk is the primary tandem-seat jet trainer used by the Navy and Marine Corps for pilot carrier qualification – a mandatory certification pilots must complete before flying any other carrier-capable aircraft.

Three individuals and four teams from NAVAIR were recognized as winners of the Department of the Navy’s (DoN) annual Financial Management Awards at a ceremony held at the Pentagon on June 18.

NAVAIR Commander Vice Adm. Carl Chebi recognized individuals and teams in nine categories aligned directly to NAVAIR’s focus areas—speed of capability, affordability and availability—at the 25th annual NAVAIR Commander’s Awards held here June 4.

The Naval Aviation School for Additive Manufacturing (NASAM) is fostering collaboration across forces to ensure lethality and readiness wherever warfighters need it.

Recently, two U.S. Army soldiers used the skills they learned at NASAM to produce critical parts while deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.