NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. – The Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges Program Office (PMA-205) welcomed new leadership during a change of command and retirement ceremony June 17, 2025, here.
Capt. Jonathan Schiffelbein assumed command of PMA-205 relieving Capt. Kevin McGee as program manager, who retires after 27 years of Navy service.
McGee, a native of Reston, Virginia, served as PMA-205 program manager since June 2022, equipping naval aviators with the cutting-edge training they need to dominate the skies.
“I can honestly say he’s made a lasting impact on naval aviation,” Rear Adm. John Lemmon, Program Executive Officer of Tactical Aircraft Programs, said during the event. “From our very first meeting, it was clear that Tripper always had the best interests of the fleet at heart. He genuinely wants to make a difference for our warfighters, and he consistently strives to find the best ways to serve them.”
Over McGee’s tenure with the program, PMA-205 delivered hundreds of updated operator and maintainer training systems to the Fleet, including the first-ever mixed reality aircrew trainers. Working closely with Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), PMA-205 also delivered the first Simulators at Sea Training Suite on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The first-of-its-kind system brings F-35, E-2D, F/A-18 and EA-18G simulators into one environment and enables aircrew to maintain proficiency in high-end integrated tactics while underway.
Additionally, the Integrated Training Facility at NAS Fallon achieved Initial Operational Capability, bringing together the platforms listed above and AEGIS simulators into one environment for strike group training. PMA-205 published a Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) Five-Year Flight Plan – a critical roadmap to accelerate LVC training capabilities to the Fleet.
“It’s been a great honor to work with the men and women of PMA-205 these last three years,” McGee said. “The Navy has entrusted PMA-205 with ensuring that our Sailors are prepared for whatever tasking awaits them, and our team has shown what can be done when we put our Sailors first. Thanks for letting me play a small part in the larger story of PMA-205.”
McGee has held numerous leadership roles throughout his career. In 2008, he was selected as the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 Test Pilot of the Year and was subsequently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 “Black Aces” as an operational department head. He then held a program management role as the T-45 Integrated Product Team lead at the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273) where his team was recognized with consecutive Naval Air Systems Command Commander’s Awards. McGee also served as the Deputy Program Manager of the F-35 Maintenance Systems Program Management Office, leading a team delivering maintenance management capabilities to three U.S. services, seven partner nations, and four foreign military sales customers. He has also served as the Director of the Air Systems Group at NAWCAD.
As PMA-205 program manager, McGee managed an Acquisition Category (ACAT) II program, an ACAT III program, two ACAT IV programs, 37 Abbreviated Acquisition Programs, and 29 other training acquisition projects with an annual budget of $678M.
“I am confident that Capt. Schiffelbein is the right person to continue the stewardship of this great organization and continue to deliver quality products that support the men and women on the front lines,” McGee said.
Schiffelbein, joins PMA-205 after serving as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Navy (Air/Ground). He has expressed his commitment to the PMA-205 mission which emphasizes “Get Real, Get Better” behaviors to accelerate LVC training capabilities to the Fleet and continuing to build on recent PMA-205 team successes.
“PMA-205 provides our warfighters an unfair advantage through superior preparation,” Schiffelbein said. “This advantage ensures their lethality and dominance in the face of the adversary and their safe return home. While we are pursuing new capabilities to enable LVC across the Naval enterprise, we will continue to focus all the way down to our Sailors and Marines going through A School, ensuring everyone is trained for the fight.”
As part of Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Programs, PMA-205 provides full lifecycle acquisition of naval aviation platform and general training systems, training range instrumentation systems, and distributed mission training centers. These systems and centers provide U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots, naval flight officers, aircrew and maintainers with the training equipment required to provide lethal capability and operational readiness.