Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 is proud to announce that two of its pilots received awards for their outstanding accomplishments in 2020. Cmdr. Jared Goul, VX-20 commanding officer, announced Lt. Priti Bhatnagar as the squadron's 2020 Test Pilot of the Year and Capt. Michael France of the Airborne Command & Control and Logistics Wing (ACCLW) announced VX-20's Lt. Mahmood Alaverdi as the wing's 2020 Hawkeye Pilot of the Year (Ashore). Both pilots are 2018 graduates of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Bhatnagar with Class 153 and Alaverdi with Class 154.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently named two engineers from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) recipients of its annual Tibbetts Award.  

Six Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL) Sailors became the wing's newest chief petty officers and one NTWL Marine became the wing’s newest gunnery sergeant during a pinning ceremony on Jan. 29 that was accompanied by honking horns from family members in their cars behind them.

Engineers from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division are developing augmented reality headset applications to connect engineers with maintainers across the globe to maintain and repair Navy aircraft and systems.

The technology received the 2020 Department of Defense Maintenance Innovation Challenge Award, and has application both in and outside of the military.

The instructors at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland are dedicated to ensuring the next generation of developmental test pilots, flight officers, and engineers gain the skills necessary for testing the aircraft and systems of tomorrow. Less widely known, but no less valuable, is their dedication to conducting original research that broadens the body of aerospace knowledge and improves flight test safety and practice.

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Rapid Prototyping, Experimentation, and Demonstration (RPED) team is calling for new academia and industry participants in the next Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX)/Test-Ex (ATE) event in May 2021. NAWCAD is accepting academia and industry participant applications through February 28, 2021. The theme of this year’s ATE is Joint War at Sea, with specific interest in the following technology areas:

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) delivered the 100^th Aegis Radio Communication System (RCS) to the fleet following a ceremony today at Webster Outlying Field in St. Inigoes, Maryland.

The RCS is integral to the operation of the Aegis combat system, and was developed and integrated by NAWCAD engineers.

“I am incredibly proud of our team for the capability they continue to deliver to our ships,” said NAWCAD Commander Rear Adm. John Lemmon.

The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) held a graduation ceremony for Class 158 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, January 22. 36 students successfully completed an intense 11-month course of instruction for designation as Engineering Developmental Test Pilots, Test Flight Officers, and Test Engineers.

Retired Vice Adm. David Architzel delivered the keynote address. Architzel is a former Commander of Naval Air Systems Command and a graduate of USNTPS.

After a 32-year career supporting the development of new technologies for the fleet, a historic Sikorsky NVH-3A Sea King helicopter assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River has flown its last mission — and a program executive with a special tie to the aircraft is hoping it will soon find a new permanent home where its story can be shared.

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) recognized significant technical achievements during its 20th annual Commander’s and Innovation Awards at Naval Air Station Patuxent River December 8.