TIME CAPSULE PLACED INTO GERALD R. FORD PAGE 7 VOLUME 52 NO. 28
JULY 18, 2013
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA
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DAM NECK ANNEX
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NALF FENTRESS
INSIDEJET
X-47B trap on USS George H.W. Bush makes naval aviation history BY MC3 BRANDON VINSON USS George H.W.Bush Public Affairs
TURNING TRAGEDY INTO WAY TO HELP
mander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, who served as the guest speaker.The audience of hundreds ranged from local government and community officials, fellow flag and commanding officers, to regional staff, family and friends. Capt. Mary M. Jackson, chief of staff, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, served as master of ceremonies and Capt. Bruce Boyle, regional chaplain, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, provided the invocation and benediction.The presentation of colors
USS GEORGE H.W.BUSH,At Sea (NNS) —The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first carrier-based arrested landing on board USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia July 10. “It isn’t very often you get a glimpse of the future.Today, those of us aboard USS George H.W. Bush got that chance as we witnessed the X47B make its first ever arrested landing aboard an aircraft carrier,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.“The operational unmanned aircraft soon to be developed have the opportunity to radically change the way presence and combat power are delivered from our aircraft carriers.” The demonstration was the first time a tailless, unmanned autonomous aircraft landed on a modern aircraft carrier. This test marks a historic event for naval aviation that Navy leaders believe will impact the way the Navy integrates manned and unmanned aircraft on the carrier flight deck in the future. “Today we witnessed the capstone moment for the Navy UCAS program as the team flawlessly performed integrated carrier operations aboard USS George H.W. Bush with the X-47B aircraft,” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Navy UCAS program manager. “Our precision landing performance, advanced autonomous flight controls and digital carrier air traffic control environment are a testament to the innovation and technical excellence of the Navy and Northrop Grumman team.” The July 10 landing was the final part of three at-sea test periods for X-47B during the last eight months,culminating a decade of Navy
— See MIDLANT change of command Page 8
— See UCAS Page 4
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PIECES OF HISTORY: POWS RETURN
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The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will offer their mobile service, “DMV2GO” at the Oceana NEX July 31, and also the NEX at Scott’s Annex at the shipyard on Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular DMV services will be available.
Photo by MC2 Gregory White
Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith salutes Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Adm. Bill Gortney (r), as Rear Adm. Tim Alexander watches, during a retirement and change of command ceremony on Naval Station Norfolk July 12. Alexander relinquished command to Smith, marking the end of Alexander’s 33 years of dedicated service to the U.S. Navy.
Navy Region Mid-Atlantic changes command; Alexander retiring after 33 years of naval service BY DAVID TODD Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs Members of Navy’s Mid-Atlantic (MIDLANT) Region said farewell to Rear Adm. Tim Alexander and welcomed new commander, Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith, during a change of command, July 12, held in Hangar LF-59 on Naval Station Norfolk, home of the HSC-28 “Dragon Whales.” On hand for the ceremony was Vice Adm.William D. French, commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Adm. Bill Gortney, com-