Oct 1, 2012
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. – Leadership of more than 200 Navy Reservists supporting Naval Air Systems Command around the world turned over at a ceremony here Sept. 28.
Rear Adm. Charles Rainey, who became the director of the NAVAIR Reserve Program (NRP) in October 2009, retired after a 32-year Navy career and handed over the directorship to Rear Adm. (sel) Kirby Miller, a native of Bellevue, Wash.
“It’s been a privilege and honor to serve as director of the NRP for the last three years,” Rainey said. “I’m in awe of the sacrifice and commitment of the men and women of the NRP, and how they have responded so selflessly in support of the warfighter.”
During his tenure, Rainey transformed the organizational structure of the NRP in an effort to provide NAVAIR with a more flexible and capable Reserve force. The transformation included a review and justification of every single job, as well as an overhaul of the rank structure.
Ceremony guest speaker Vice Adm. David Dunaway, NAVAIR commander, led the crowd in an impromptu singing of “Happy Birthday” to Rainey in honor of his 50th birthday. He went on to describe the NRP’s impact to NAVAIR.
“Under [Rainey’s] leadership, this corps is more integrated and clearly relevant than any I’ve ever seen,” Dunaway said.
The NRP is unique in its integration with NAVAIR, as Reservists are responsible for execution of some missions without an active component presence.
Some NAVAIR Reserve-specific missions include the Joint Combat Assessment Team, which evaluates damaged aircraft in theater, looking forensically at enemy threat systems as well as their tactics, training and procedures. Another Reserve-specific mission is the Forward Deployed Combat Repair team, which provides depot-level repair capabilities in the field.
Now the NRP transitions to Miller, a 28-year Navy veteran who completed multiple deployments with two F-14A Tomcat squadrons and two deployments into theater as a Reservist, the last deployment in 2008.
“Over the last three years, Admiral Rainey has set us up for success and completely integrated with NAVAIR and the warfighter,” Miller said. “It’s an honor to follow him, and I look forward to continuing what he started.”
The NAVAIR Reserve Program has nearly 250 officer and enlisted members supporting the command, its associated warfare centers and program executive offices. NRP members regularly deploy forward with operational units, providing more than 12,000 man-days of support each year.
NAVAIR Reserve Program
(301) 757-2211
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