Members of VX-31 and civilian employees pose in front of shuttle CSA-227 Metroliner N782C at China Lake 9/29/08 Photo: USN / Mike McGinnis

11/12/2008 - Rear Adm. David Dunaway, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division commander, recently recognized the men and women of the NAWCWD Metro III shuttle program, who have provided contract and operations support for daily air transportation between Point Mugu and China Lake for the last 12 years.

According to the letters of appreciation, "the shuttle provided an economical, dependable and, most importantly, safe mode of transportation between our widely separated sites. It has enabled competency, operational efficiency, organizational consolidation and streamlining. It has resulted in significant savings by eliminating the need for duplicate management at both sites. Operating the shuttle over the Sierra Nevada mountain range and Pacific coast in all seasons and all weather, is a significant challenge. The passengers that were carried are among the world's best leaders, scientists, managers, business administrators and technicians in the field of weapons and weapons system development, and they are the intellectual capital upon which the success of the organization depends.”

Members of VX-30 and civilian employees pose in front of one of the CSA-227 Metroliners at Point Mugu 9/24/08 Photo: USN / Greg Turnbaugh

Dunaway told those in attendance that their efforts contributed to a flawless shuttle safety record and an enviable mission completion rate. Each individual received a letter of appreciation and one of the admiral's command coins.

Members of both the VX-30 "Bloodhounds" at NAS Point Mugu and the VX-31 "Dust Devils" at NAWS China Lake, help fly a small fleet of CSA-227 Metroliners between the two bases each day.

Source: USN Press Release