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Navy
Patuxent River acts as region's economic engine
Thursday, March 26, 2009
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Even before the United States' involvement in World War II, the U.S. Navy had decided to consolidate several of its naval aviation test operations — facilities that were spread across the Washington, D.C., area — into one location. Several sites were considered but, because of the geography, the Navy chose land in St. Mary's County bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River as the best place to build the new facility.
Construction began in April 1942, just months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Patuxent River Naval Air Station was commissioned in April 1943, almost one year after construction began. Today, the air station is home to more than 50 tenant activities, including the Naval Air System Command, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division and the United States Naval Test Pilot School.
The full spectrum of research, development, acquisition, test and evaluation for all of naval aviation is available at Pax River. Among the better-known programs with a presence at Pax River are the Joint Strike Fighter, the Presidential Helicopter and V-22 Osprey. Other operations include the Manned Flight Simulator, the Aircraft Anechoic Test Facility, the Aircraft and Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation facilities and the Aviation Physiology Training Department.
The commanding officer of Patuxent River Naval Air Station is Capt. Andrew Macyko. The executive officer is Capt. Stephen Schmeiser. Pax River's civilian executive director is Michael Quigley.
