Jeffery White is this year’s NAVAIR Mentor of the Year for China Lake.

White’s Navy career – and his mentoring journey – all started on his first shift as a Sailor in 1982 on the U.S.S. Copeland (FFG 25) in Long Beach, California. White served in the Navy for 22 years and joined Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in 2005. Since his first day at work, White has had dozens of mentors who have been, in his words, “Spectacular.”

It was the leadership of those Sailors that set the stage for White and forged his mentorship style.

Nearly 76 years ago, the brand-new Michelson Laboratory at Naval Ordnance Test Station China Lake opened its doors, ushering in a legacy of naval innovation and capability advancement in the high desert. That legacy continued through wartime and peace, carried forward by the men and women of Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division.

Forty-nine Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division employees graduated from the final offering of the Professional at all Levels: Step 1 (Leading Self and Others) program at both Point Mugu and China Lake on Dec. 6 and 7.

The milestone caps over a decade of sharpening over 1,000 leaders across the command through a strategic talent development investment initiated in 2012.

As 2023 comes to an end, many at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake are reflecting on the progress made since two earthquakes caused billions of dollars in damage to the base. Construction at the China Lake Propulsion Laboratory (CLPL) is giving the Navy and the rest of the Department of Defense a glimpse into the future of military energetics research, development, design, testing, and evaluation.

Cmdr. Devin Holmes relieved Cmdr. Colette Lazenka 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. 2.

Surrounded by the vast steel structure of their hangar and standing proudly under the American flag, VX-30 stood on the precipice of change, celebrating past achievements while charting a course for new horizons.

Lazenka assumed command of VX-30 in May 2022, making history as the first woman to command the Bloodhounds.

Three years ago, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Officer in Charge of Construction China Lake broke ground on a new laboratory, part of a plan to restore research, development, test and evaluation capabilities at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake after two major earthquakes rocked the area in July 2019.

On Oct. 24, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division cut the ribbon on the resulting $135 million facility, the Dr. Marguerite “Peggy” Rogers Laboratory.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division recognized four individuals and two teams for their innovative spirit and outstanding contributions to the command and warfighting efforts with 2022 NAWCWD Innovation Awards during a ceremony Aug. 10, 2023 in China Lake, California.

Rear Adm. Keith Hash, NAWCWD commander, gave opening remarks, highlighting the need to innovate in order to get real about our nation’s warfighting challenges and get better at meeting them in a world of great power competition and conflict.

Capt. David Halpern relieved Capt. Ryan Bryla as the commodore of Naval Test Wing Pacific during a change of command ceremony in Point Mugu, California, on July 14.

Bryla is retiring after 27 years of service.

“As we all know, service to our nation is not a singles match,” Bryla said, addressing the assembled crowd. “Without the support, mentorship and guidance from some great individuals, I would have never served for as long as I have. I appreciate the support over the years and I owe a debt of gratitude to each of you.”

Russell Peterson received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in a ceremony July 12 in Point Mugu, California.

Peterson, the Advanced Targets Branch head, also served as the acting deputy program manager and contracting officer’s representative for the Sub-Sonic Aerial Target Increment Two.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division inducted 11 more technical experts into the Fellows Program in ceremonies June 13 in China Lake and June 29 in Point Mugu, California.

The Fellows Program was first launched in the 1980s and expanded to become a Naval Air Systems Command program in the 2000s. NAWCWD re-launched its program in 2021, after a three-year hiatus in Fellows inductions.