Each year the command at Air Test
and Evaluation Squadron Thirty One (VX-31) at the Naval Air Warfare
Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) China Lake selects members of its
military and civilian team as Test Pilot of the Year, Test Naval
Flight Officer of the Year and Flight Test Engineer of the Year.
"Competition was keen, but in the end, the performance of these
individuals was exceptional and made them stand out for the
knowledge and performance involving flight test this last
year,” explained Cmdr. Tim Morey, VX-31’s commanding
officer.
For 2005, the honorees are Test Pilot of the Year Lt. Cmdr. Kyle
T. Turco, of the Direct Attack Technical Project Office; Test Naval
Flight Officer of the Year Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Modlin, FA-18 Advanced
Weapons Laboratory; and Flight Test Engineer of the Year Kenneth P.
Murphy, of the FA-18 Advanced Weapons Laboratory (AWL).
According to the Morey, who presented the awards January 9,
their efforts had direct and immediate impact on the global war on
terror. “They planned, executed, and reported on flight test
activities for several key combat capabilities that made it to the
fleet, and saw our warfighters use those capabilities immediately
in combat action,” he said at the ceremony. “We are
extremely proud of their efforts and the impact they and the rest
of their NAWCWD teammates are having on our warfighters.”
Test Pilot of the Year 2005
During the past year, Lt. Cmdr. Kyle T. Turco has served as the
VX-31 Weapons Test and Evaluation coordinator. As the Joint
Standoff Weapon (JSOW) Project Officer, Turco implemented
introduction of fleet upgrades, oversaw the testing of JSOW Block
II moving target data link capabilities, and demonstrated the JSOW
Anti-Surface Warfare program. He also contributed significantly to
the JSOW Block II cost reduction efforts, which contributed to the
program receiving the highly esteemed David Packard Excellence in
Acquisition Award.
According to Lt. Cmdr. John Bailey, from the JSOW NAVAIR
headquarters class desk, “Turco did an outstanding job
leading the JSOW test team through challenging phases of the
multiple programs, overcoming numerous obstacles along the way. As
the JSOW class desk, I relied heavily on his initiative and
expertise on-site in China Lake.”
As the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Project Officer,
Turco provided the fleet introduction of the GBU-38 and integration
on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. He also was involved in the release
of the first Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Dual Mode weapons.
Test Naval Flight Officer of the Year 2005
Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Modlin’s exceptional technical expertise
and noteworthy drive and dedication as the F/A-18 AWL
Electro-Optical/Infrared Project (EO/IR) Officer are the basis for
his selection by VX-31 leadership as the Test Naval Flight Officer
of the Year for 2005. Modlin received the squadron’s award
for his involvement is shepherding the SHAred Reconnaissance Pod
(SHARP) into operational test. He also received a Gold Star in lieu
of his third Navy Commendation Medal. Modlin led the SHARP team in
the expansion of the fleet tactical reconnaissance envelope with a
high altitude sensor and data-link. According to Morey, Modlin
provided timely fleet support in the form of Litening AT Targeting
Pod operational user briefs and translated Electro-Optical/Infrared
requirements from operational fleet needs to AWL test team
focus.
Modlin also served as the project officer for the H4E higher
order language mission computer operational flight program for the
F/A-18 Super Hornet, thereby providing new combat capability to the
fleet. “Modlin worked hand in hand with many subject matter
experts in characterizing fleet needs and steering the AWL test
team’s focus towards meeting those needs,” explained
Morey.
Cmdr. Tim Morey (left), VX-31’s commanding
officer, and Lt. Col. Mark Johnson,(right), chief test pilot, were
on hand to congratulate the 2005 military and civilian honorees.
They are Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Turco, of the Direct Attack Technical
Project Office; Test Naval Flight Officer of the Year Lt. Cmdr.
Patrick Modlin, FA-18 Advanced Weapons Laboratory; and Flight Test
Engineer of the Year Mr. Ken Murphy, of the FA-18 Advanced Weapons
Laboratory.
Flight Test Engineer of the Year 2005
According to the squadron’s commanding officer, Ken Murphy
serves as project engineer for the F/A-18 Advanced Weapons
Laboratory’s Electro-Optical/Infrared test team.
“Murphy is a highly respected flight test engineer within the
F/A-18 test community and is experienced and professional in all of
his responsibilities,” explained Morey. “His passion
and initiative, superb organizational and communication skills, and
technical acumen are rare and valuable traits that have directly
contributed to the success of his programs.”
In the past few years, advanced EO/IR systems have become a
critical combat strike package item for the fleet. He coordinated
the modification of multiple VX-31 F/A-18 aircraft for EO/IR system
test, providing quick turn-around answers to time critical fleet
warfighter needs. He also developed the Litening AT targeting pod
training syllabus allowing fleet users to quickly take advantage of
the enhanced warfighting capabilities that new targeting pod
brought to the battlefield.
In addition, Murphy authored the Naval Aviation Technical
Information Publication chapter for the Litening AT targeting pod
and participated in the development of the documentation for many
other systems.
As a nationally recognized systems integrator and flight test
engineer in the EO/IR arena, Murphy’s abilities and knowledge
have been requested by all levels of Naval and Marine Corps
aviation -- from local aircrew and engineers, active fleet
squadrons deploying with this sensor, industry teams, on up to
highest levels at NAVAIR. Integrating these systems onto the F/A-18
platform has required in-depth knowledge of the aircraft weapons
systems, Mission Computer software and the Advanced Targeting FLIR
interface.