VPNAVY VP-5 Mercury Capsule Recovery
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

HistoryVP-11 HistoryHistory

Circa 2006

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: History ThumbnailCamera060405-N-4856G-001 Makapuķu Point, Hawaii (April 05, 2006) "...A memorial plaque in honor of Patrol Squadron Eleven (VP-11) crew members, who died in a plane crash April 5, 1942. U.S. Military members dedicated a memorial in honor of Patrol Squadron Eleven (VP-11). The VP-11 crew flying a PBY-5A Catalina, crashed on Oahu near Makapuķu Point while returning to base in zero-zero visibility. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Ben A. Gonzales (RELEASED)..." WebSite: Navy NewsStand http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=33392 [04JUN2006]


Circa 2001

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...Naval officer ends 24-year career - Thursday, April 5, 2001..." WebSite: DC Military - Tester http://www.dcmilitary.com/dcmilitary_archives/stories/040501/6247-1.shtml [16OCT2006]

On March 23, the commander of the Naval Air Systems Command and the Program Executive Officer for Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation bid farewell to Capt. Richard M. Prevatt III. Prevatt culminated his U.S. Navy career of over 24 years as he passed the lead of Naval Afloat Targeting and Cruise Missiles Command and Control Programs (PMA-281) to Capt. Michael A. Hecker.

PMA-281 is chartered to develop, acquire, deploy and support Naval Afloat Targeting systems and Cruise Missile Command and Control Systems for the nation's warriors. Its roots date back to 1977 when the Joint Cruise Missiles Program Office was created. PMA-281 was formed in 1986 to provide mission planning capabilities for Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles. Since that time, the command has evolved to support a wide variety of Navy weapons, provide imagery processing and exploitation systems, precision targeting systems, as well provide innovative approaches to conducting maritime power projection.

In September 1997, Prevatt assumed command as program manager (PMA-281) for the nine major systems providing Command and Control, Imagery Processing, Precision Targeting and Mission Planning essential to fleet Tomahawk and Joint Precision Weapons. His team received multiple commendations for operational Tomahawk support during Operations Desert Fox and Allied Force/Noble Anvil and numerous Secretary of the Navy awards for Acquisition Innovation and Reform.

Born in Stuttgart, West Germany, into a military family, he earned his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering and computer science, Summa Cum Laude, from Duke University in 1977. After commissioning in May, he reported to Pensacola, Fla., for naval flight training in June 1977, and graduated with distinction.

Prevatt completed P-3 replacement pilot training at VP-30, NAS Jacksonville, Florida in 1979, then reported to his first operational assignment with the "Pegasus" of VP-11, there completing two LANT deployments. After jet transition at Kingsville, Texas, in 1982, he graduated with Class 84 of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in December 1983. He joined Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate at Naval Air Test Center NAS Patuxent River, Maryland to direct P-3 engine performance monitoring, defensive electronic countermeasures, and survivability and vulnerability developmental test. He then returned to TPS as an instructor. In 1986, he joined the "Wizards" of Patrol Squadron Special Projects Unit 2 where he directed multiple WESTPAC deployments.

Prevatt earned his master's degree with distinction in computer science from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., in December 1990. After graduation, he completed the program manager's course at the Defense Systems Management College, then began his association with Tomahawk as director of Test and Evaluation for Program Executive Officer, Cruise Missile Project during both Desert Watch and Desert Storm and the accelerated fleet introduction of Block III. In April 1994, he was selected to be deputy program manager for Combat Identification and then for Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures for Program Executive Officer, Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)). In May 1997, he joined PEO(T) as operations officer and chief of staff. His service has included over 3,400 flight hours as a pilot in 41 types of Navy, Air Force, Army and Allied aircraft.

Prevatt is married to the former Tina Ashley of Jackson, Ohio. They live in Great Mills with their three children Matthew, Michael and Andrea.

Copyright © 2006 Comprint Military Publications - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


Return
"VP-11 History Summary Page"

Selection Page

VPNAVY Copyrighted © 1996 - 2023