Seventy-nine Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division employees graduated from the Professional at all Levels Step 1 leadership program during a ceremony Jan 14.

PaaL is a command-developed, three-step program that is open to employees at all levels of the organization. Each of the three steps includes professional development classes and a series of sessions with personal and group coaches. Since the first cohort in 2012, nearly 700 employees have participated in the program. The first step of the program focuses on leading self and others.

Daryl Jue earned the 2020 Naval Air Systems Command’s Mentor of the Year award for Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in Point Mugu, California, and will be honored during a ceremony Jan. 26.

The award came as a surprise for Jue, noting that the command is full of mentors, all pulling in the same direction.

“We’re all working toward the same goal: workforce development and knowledge transfer,” he said. “I don’t think I’m doing anything that different.”

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 named their Test Pilot and Naval Flight Officer of the year for 2020 in a ceremony Jan. 4 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California.

Lt. Cmdr. Justin Stevens, a native of Boca Raton, Florida, served as the project officer for the F-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler H16 System Configuration Set (SCS) software updates. Stevens led the effort to develop and mature the software, which will improve the overall capability of the Super Hornet and Growler as strike-fighter and electronic attack platforms.

When asked why he takes the time to mentor, John Johnson said, “How could you not?”, and that might be one reason he was named Naval Air Systems Command’s 2020 Mentor of the Year for China Lake.

Pat Brannigan, product support manager for Precision Strike Weapons (PMA-201), earned the Navy’s 2020 PSM of the Year nod for ACAT II and below programs and will represent the department in the run for the Secretary of Defense 2020 Product Support Manager Awards.

Cmdr. Jason Saglimbene relieved Cmdr. Paul Meyer as commanding officer of the “Bloodhounds” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 30 during a change of command ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California, on Nov. 5.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, the ceremony also streamed live online.

Capt. Ryan Bryla, Naval Test Wing Pacific commodore, presided over the change of command.

What do bread and liquid jet fuel have in common?

Yeast.

At least they can, if you’re talking about the biosynthetic research being done in China Lake, California, by Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division and Amyris, Inc., a biotechnology company headquartered in Emeryville. Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Living Foundries: 1000 Molecules Program, NAWCWD and Amyris’ project starts with specially developed yeast cells and ends with a high-density missile fuel.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division received over $25,200 in grants from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering Laboratories and Personnel to fund fiscal year 2021 support to the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Program.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dail Fields relieved U.S. Navy Capt. Andrew Gephart as commanding officer of the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 “Dust Devils” in an airborne change of command ceremony July 29 in China Lake, California.

Capt. Ryan Bryla relieved Capt. A.J. McFarland as the commodore of Naval Test Wing Pacific during a change of command ceremony in Point Mugu, California, on June 19.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many participants attended virtually, including Rear Adm. Scott Dillon, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division commander, who presented McFarland with the Legion of Merit award.

The Legion of Merit is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements, and requires the signature of a three-star flag or general officer.