NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – Capt. Todd Keith assumed command of the Navy’s Strike Planning and Execution Systems program office (PMA-281) from Capt. Jerick Black during a change of command ceremony June 18 at Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.
Rear Adm. Stephen Tedford, who oversees the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, presided over the ceremony where he highlighted Black’s leadership as being vital to the growth of the command during his tour.
“Through innovation and collaboration, Capt. Black took the critical first steps in establishing an AI clearinghouse that consolidates AI and autonomy software to ensure long-term benefits across the naval enterprise,” Tedford said. “By consistently and transparently advocating for what his program needed…he has built not only a credible reputation for himself and the program office, but for delivering required capabilities on time.”
During Black’s tour, he led a team of more than 270 personnel across a complex, $2.4 billion portfolio of joint and international software-intensive programs that support over 40 naval aviation platforms, unmanned vehicles, and cruise missile systems. He allocated resources and pursued collaborative solutions to serve over 180 global mission planning sites to meet evolving, critical fleet requirements.
“I believe the enduring principle of PMA-281 is to unlock people’s potential with innovative technology to support and defend the Constitution,” Black said. “Our people are the first link in the kill chain…they represent whole teams of people supporting naval mission planning, theater mission planning, air wing ship integration and autonomy mission planning. Our people are the mission.”
Keith, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Airborne Systems program has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours in 25 jet models. He transitioned to Aviation Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO) in 2014 and served as the T-45 mission systems integrated program team lead at the Undergraduate Jet Flight Training program office (PMA- 273). His other AEDO assignments include P-8A military class desk, deputy program manager for Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications program (PMA-271), and AEDO detailer. Most recently he served as the Aerial Targets (PMA-208) deputy program manager.
“The men and women of PMA-281 are the heartbeat of this command. Your expertise, innovation, and unwavering commitment inspire me,” Keith said. “As your program manager, I pledge to lead with integrity, foster collaboration, and empower our teams to accelerate mission planning capabilities. It is a profound honor to join this team and assume command of this vital acquisition program.”
PMA-281 is responsible for the acquisition and life cycle management of a range of mission planning, control system and execution tools that are developed and integrated in partnership with other program offices at NAVAIR, other services and foreign nation partners.