A thunderous arrival turned solemn tribute as a legendary U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II+ touched down at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona this June, marking the aircraft’s official retirement and its induction into the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Arizona Museum.
The Adversary and Specialized Aircraft Program Office (PMA-226) and the AV-8B Harrier Program Office (PMA-257) welcomed new leadership during a change of command and retirement ceremony July 17 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Capt. Jason Pettitt assumed command of both PMAs, relieving Capt. Greg Sutton as program manager, who retires after 27 years of naval service.
Sutton served as PMA-226 program manager since 2022 and assumed concurrent command of PMA-257 in March 2025.
After more than three decades of combat sorties, carrier launches, and forward-deployed missions, one of the U.S. Marine Corps’ most iconic jets has made its final landing as a public museum piece.
On June 10, a retired AV-8B Harrier II+ became the latest addition to the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver arriving with fanfare, rich history, and a legacy of innovation that continues to captivate aviation lovers of all ages.
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. - A modular open systems approach narrative is at the forefront of the upcoming MOSA Industry and Government Summit & Expo Aug. 27-29 in National Harbor, Maryland. Leading Navy authorities set sights to engage with the DOD tri-services and industry on system lifecycle urgencies with a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) strategy.
The lead business financial manager (BFM) for the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) received the 2024 Department of the Navy annual Financial Management Contribution to Business Processes and Internal Controls individual award during a ceremony June 18 at the Pentagon for her critical work resolving a material weakness flagged by Navy auditors.
The Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges Program Office (PMA-205) welcomed new leadership during a change of command and retirement ceremony June 17, 2025, here.
Capt. Jonathan Schiffelbein assumed command of PMA-205 relieving Capt. Kevin McGee as program manager, who retires after 27 years of Navy service.
McGee, a native of Reston, Virginia, served as PMA-205 program manager since June 2022, equipping naval aviators with the cutting-edge training they need to dominate the skies.
Rapidly delivering critical capabilities to the fleet earned the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) a trifecta of awards at NAVAIR's annual Commander's Awards ceremony on June 4.
NAVAIR Commander Carl Chebi presented the following three awards to PMA-265 teams:
APG-79(V)4 Radar Integrated Product Team rapidly fielded the most significant capability enhancement to the F/A-18C/D Hornet in its nearly 40-year service life.
The U.S. Navy declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the T-54A Marlin II training aircraft in May, giving future naval aviators a modern platform to prepare them for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet.
After years of soaring through the skies, a retired AV-8B II+ Harrier found its new home May 13 at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum, ready to inspire a new generation of aviators and engineers.
A collaborative effort between the AV-8B Weapons Systems Program Office (PMA-257), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Aircraft Group 14 and Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 231 ensured the retired Harrier was demilitarized and safe for display, ready for its new role as a museum exhibit.
Two U.S. Navy civilians from the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) received the Spanish Air and Space Force’s Excellence in Sustainment Award for Foreign Collaboration in Maintenance, becoming the only Americans honored with the distinction in the award’s 17-year history.
John Smith, international programs manager, and Don Valentine, Canadian and Spanish F/A-18 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program manager, were recognized for their outstanding work on PMA-265’s F/A-18 FMS team, during a ceremony March 27 at Zaragoza Air Base in Spain.
