The Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office (PMA-272) welcomed new leadership when Col. Russell A. “Bubba” Strange assumed command as program manager from Brig. Gen. Tamara Campbell during a change of command ceremony June 11 at the Rear Adm. William A. Moffett Building here.

PMA-272 manages the development, acquisition and sustainment of operational advances in aircraft survivability equipment.

Recently pinned as brigadier general, Campbell, served as the program manager since August 2020, taking the lead amid the COVID pandemic.

A windfall of good news has come to the Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office in recent months, with their award of a production contract for one of their defense systems and receipt of a Naval Air System Command (NAVAIR) Commander’s Award for another.

The U.S. Navy awarded a $115 million production contract March 10, 2021, to Northrop Grumman Corporation for the Department of the Navy Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (DoN LAIRCM) systems. This contract awards brings the latest version of the DoN LAIRCM system to the Department of Defense fleet aircraft, and some foreign military partners, with installation beginning in 2022.

The Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office (PMA-272) received the Edward H. Heinemann Award during the 21st NAVAIR Commander’s Award ceremony, March 31, for their significant accomplishments in improving, testing and fielding Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force small-to-medium aircraft survivability capability against today’s most critical threats. 

The Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program Office (PMA-272) held a change of command ceremony Aug. 19 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

Marine Corps Col. Tamara Campbell relieved Capt. Laura Schuessler, who will remain at Pax River as the head detailer for aviation engineering duty/aviation maintenance duty officer communities.

The Navy has awarded contracts to BAE Systems and Raytheon in October for the development and demonstration a next-generation, dual band towed decoy. The contracts, valued at $36.7 million and $33 million respectively, will help determine the best fit to meet F/A-18E/F decoy requirements through a 27-month development and demonstration phase.

The Advanced Tactical Aircraft Protection Systems Program (PMA-272) based in Patuxent River will carry out testing and demonstrations of the next-generation dual band towed decoy capability on F/A-18E/F.