A look at the newly debuted Compact Swaging Machine that automates the decades-old, labor- and time-intensive socket pouring process for Sailors producing purchase cable terminals used for recovering aircraft aboard U.S. carriers. (U.S. Navy graphic)

Military members, civilians and program alumni of the F/A-18 & EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) gathered for their change of command ceremony July 11 in Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX-23) Hangar 201 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Capt. Jason Denney relieved Capt. David Kindley, who retired after 29 years of naval service, as PMA-265’s 14th program manager.

Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)), served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker.

The U.S. Navy has awarded a multi-year procurement contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for the purchase of 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft in full rate production for fiscal years 2019-2023.

This is the second MYP contract awarded to NGSC. The Navy awarded the first in 2014 for the production of 25 E-2D AHE aircraft. Congress later increased the number to 26 aircraft.