ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. – Offshore Aviation Group (OAG), a veteran-owned Maryland business, today announced the purchase of the historic Piney Point Terminal in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The company plans to transform the 320-acre waterfront property into a world-class center for unmanned systems development, testing, and operations, restoring the site’s proud aviation and maritime heritage while positioning St. Mary’s County as a global leader in next-generation technology.
As part of its environmental and community commitment, the project will involve completely removing storage tanks, and the entire pipeline that connected the facility to the pier on the Potomac River. OAG will re-open Piney Point Creek to local boaters and using the site for manned and unmanned systems test and evaluation and private sea-plane base.
“This is more than an investment in infrastructure — it’s an investment in the future of St. Mary’s County,” said Robert Hicks, CEO, Offshore Aviation Group (OAG). “We are honoring Piney Point’s legacy as a WWII naval test site while ensuring it remains a centerpiece for innovation, jobs, and leadership in unmanned technology.”
Reviving a Historic Legacy
The Piney Point site served as a torpedo test facility and naval aviation base during World War II. Offshore Aviation’s plan includes:
– Expanding commercial manufacturing of OAG’s 16 type, model, series Unmanned Systems to the site.
– Re-opening the runway and working with St. Mary’s County, the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a private use airport to support commercial manufacturing, test and evaluation, and maintenance.
– Building commercial hangars for defense contractors and universities for dedicated airspace and sea space for unmanned systems testing.
– Revitalizing the boat launch and 1200-foot industrial pier to serve Offshore Aviation’s growing fleet of Offshore Supply Vessels, strengthening the region’s maritime and logistics capabilities.
– Creating a partnership with local organizations such as the Paul Hall Center and the Friends of the St. Clements Island and Piney Point Museums to support community events and potentially collaborate on a water taxi project and development of a World War II heritage museum focusing on the US Naval Torpedo Test Squadron history.
Partnerships for the Future
Offshore Aviation will collaborate with the State of Maryland, U.S. Navy, Federal Government, contractors, military training units, and technology partners to ensure St. Mary’s County remains at the forefront of unmanned systems innovation. This initiative builds upon the region’s established defense ecosystem between Dahlgren Surface Warfare Center and Pax River Naval Air Station and reinforces Piney Point as a hub where aviation, maritime, and technology intersect.
A Commitment to Innovation and Community
By combining historical preservation with modern infrastructure, Offshore Aviation aims to create new opportunities for high-technology employment, workforce development, and industry growth in Piney Point. The project demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to both Maryland’s economy and the nation’s defense readiness.
About Offshore Aviation Group (OAG)
Offshore Aviation Group is a veteran-owned Maryland-based company specializing in maritime services, unmanned aerial systems, and warfighter training. With a growing fleet of Offshore Supply Vessels and vast expertise supporting defense and commercial clients, OAG is committed to advancing America’s maritime and unmanned systems capabilities.
Great now I get to have that in my back yard. 🤦🏻♀️
This is great news! Amazing. I’m glad it will get put to good use and the new job opportunities it may bring. I know for years there has been talks of selling it, guess they never got a serious buyer.
Thank you Robert!
Most of us don’t want our “rural” county to become a suburb of D.C. And many of those jobs will be filled by people moving down here which means more housing development and crowding; stuff people live here to avoid.
What? Ever since Pax, you aren’t ever avoiding overcrowding at this point. Born and raised here, 45 years. Rural has been gone for a long time from this area. The facility is just returning to what it once was. Maybe back in the 80s and earlier years people came here for that but no one comes to St. Mary’s for rural anymore. If so you’re in for a rude awakening.
No no no no no
I live in the Piney Point area finishing up my M.S. in Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems with 5+ years of maritime UAS operations. Hopefully when I retire from the Military Jan 2027, they will be looking to hire. I think you would be surprised at how many people that already live in the area would be able to fulfill these jobs
I live on Lighthouse Road. So, instead of having to look at decaying (but silent) oil storage tanks, we get to be awakened by sea planes and drones. My property is on the creek which is south of the proposed reopened airstrip. Winds are predominantly from the south which means they will be taking off heading directly towards me. I hope, but doubt, this will be factored into the permitting process.
No, they don’t figure us into anything unless we can generate money. I’m sorry about your situation. I live right across Piney Point Road. I don’t think it will be a good time for us, either.
Sounds like a done deal … Hmm where’s the public input?
To hear the reasons why something can’t be done?
Wow. Homeowners in this area can’t even cut down a tree in their own yard because of environmental impact issues. How will they ever get past the red tape and environmental matters. Oh that’s right. Money talks. Money talks.
Sure does.
So we’re getting screwed again.
Sure are. Hope they’re pulling your hair at least.
We live here, and the drones from webster field and the propane cannons going off two miles away is bad. now its in our back yard, resist! Resist!
I feel really bad for timbers and Piney point beach!!
Not sure what this means for our quiet community being of many elderly citizens. It has to bring a lot more traffic and our traffic has increased in recent years. How much more traffic can we accommodate on our 2 lane road that dead ends at St George Island ?
Define the noise factor. I can hear the drone testing at NESEA, across St Georges Creek.
The demolition of the tank farm is unprecedented in scale for the entire east coast, they say the tanks are empty while the county demolition site plan two yesrs ago showed 11 million gallons of residue in each tank,26 tanks, this will be a gigantic superfund scale project that according to one employee on site in october will take a minimum of two years, you are in for a very loud and difficult project