Rear Adm. Mat Winter, Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, left, welcomes Capt. Jeff Dodge, right, as the new leader of the Navy and Marine Corps’ Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air System (PMA-266) Program Office while Capt. Pat Smith, outgoing program manager, looks on. (U.S. Navy photo)
Patuxent River, MD. — The Navy and Marine Corps’ Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air System (PMA-266) Program Office welcomed a new leader Oct. 16 during a change-of-command ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
Capt. Jeff Dodge, former deputy program manager for the Navy’s Aerial Target and Decoy Systems, relieved Capt. Patrick Smith, who will retire from the Navy after 26 years of service.
Guest speaker, Rear Adm. Mat Winter, who leads the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO(U&W)), credited the program office’s success over the last few years to Smith’s leadership .“Pat navigated the PMA-266 team through some tumultuous times over the last three years, particularly in the midst of budget uncertainty,” he said. “It is because of his leadership the program is headed toward calmer waters and future successes.”
In his three-year tenure as program manager, Smith oversaw a number of significant program milestones including the deployment of the Marines’ first cargo-carrying UAS and initial testing of the MQ-8C Fire Scout endurance upgrade. His team also supported MQ-8B Fire Scout operations in Afghanistan and eight deployments at-sea.
“You have made history supporting our nation across the globe,” Smith said to the PMA-266 team during his remarks. “You are the brains, brawn and heart of all Navy and Marine Corps unmanned helicopter systems. I know that under Dodger’s leadership, you will continue to make a difference for our warfighter.”
Dodge takes command of the program just weeks before the MQ-8 Fire Scout will make its initial deployment aboard a littoral combat ship. He will continue to oversee ongoing deployments aboard frigates while preparing for the larger MQ-8C variant to deploy next year.
A veteran of the helicopter community, Dodge has flown more than 3,500 hours in 20 aircraft. While serving as commanding officer for Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71, he led the “Raptors” to their first operational deployment with the MH-60R Seahawk. He later served as a lead for the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration carrier-segment, developing the concept of operations for future unmanned platforms.
“My past experience has shown me the challenges of introducing new platforms and new deployment concepts to the fleet,” Dodge said. “The men and women of PMA-266 have been doing tremendous things, developing and deploying systems that provide Sailors and Marines with cutting edge technology, and I am excited for the opportunity to work with the team moving forward.”