Welcome to the Naval Air Station Patuxent River located in beautiful Southern Maryland. Located at the mouth of the Patuxent River, Naval Air Station Patuxent River occupies approximately 13,300 acres, including its Webster Field Annex, Solomons Recreation Center and the Bloodsworth Island Range.

Approximately 90 miles from the fleet at Norfolk, Va., Naval Air Station Patuxent River overlooks the picturesque Chesapeake Bay. The station, affectionately known as "Pax River," was commissioned in April 1943 and has since evolved into the center of excellence for naval aviation.

he Naval Air Systems Command provides cost-wise readiness and dominant maritime combat power in support of all activities that make up the Naval Aviation Enterprise. NAVAIR employs about 40,000 people working at eight principal continental United States sites and two principal sites overseas, each providing an indispensable piece of the NAE equation.

The principal mission of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One is to test and evaluate airborne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime anti- surface warfare (SUW) weapon systems, airborne strategic weapon systems, as well as support systems, equipment and materials in an operational environment.

The Navy and Marine Corps began flying aircraft in 1911 and 1912, and there has never been as many aviation functions at one facility as there are now at Patuxent River. Why is there a naval air station at Pax River and what is so much of naval aviation doing there? A look at history shows that the size and location of naval aeronautics infrastructure has always been a function of technological development and defense requirements.

Arrivals via commercial air carrier will land at one of three airports in the Washington D.C., and Baltimore areas. Reagan National and Dulles International are located in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) is located closer to Baltimore.

The Housing Welcome Center is located in Building 2371 at NAS Patuxent River. Lincoln Military Housing has entered into a Public Private Venture (PPV) with the Navy and manages all military family housing units that are part of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River complex.

The Administration office provides staff, administrative, clerical and general management support services, command career counseling, command communications material system services, command duty office services, and administration and review of enlisted personnel requirements.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation sponsors recreation-based programs and facilities for residents and employees at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. These services form a web of activities which include athletics, childcare, dining and entertainment. MWR provides information about upcoming events on its Web site, in the Tester, Patuxent Trails, on signboards and in literature stands on station.

Nestled in a horseshoe bend on the St. Mary's River, St. Mary's College of Maryland is the state's only public honors college offering not only a rigorous liberal arts course of undergraduate study, but also numerous opportunities for continuing education and professional certification.

Southern Maryland has changed signficantly since 1634. Despite the inevitable change brought by the passage of time and growth of the region, the ideals, values and traditions upon which Maryland was built still echo throughout Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties.

The Naval Air Station Patuxent River Station Guide is an authorized publication for members of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River. It is printed by Comprint Military Publications of Gaithersburg, MD., a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy, under exclusive contract with Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

• About Naval Air Station Patuxent River