VX-20

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20


caption= VX-20 Insignia
dates= 1975 - Present
country= United States
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branch= USN
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current_commander= Commander John S. Lemmon
garrison= NAS Patuxent River
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nickname= Force
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Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Twenty (VX-20) is a U.S. Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Mission Statement

The VX-20 Team expertly tests and evaluates aircraft and related systems in support of their delivery to the Fleet. We provide trained people, test ready aircraft, and access to state of the art facilities necessary for the development of cutting edge technology to support the warfighting needs of the operating forces.

History

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Twenty can trace its roots all the way to the founding of the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Recognizing the need for consolidation of the Navy's flight test efforts, NAS Patuxent River was established on April 1, 1943, due to its proximity to the coast, freedom from air traffic congestion, and isolation for testing of classified projects. On June 16, 1945, the Navy officially designated the Naval Air Test Center.

In April, 1975, after 30 years of operations at Patuxent River, the Flight Test Division, Weapons Test Division, Service Test Division, and U.S. Naval Test Pilot School reorganized under the Naval Air Test Center into the Antisubmarine Aircraft Test Directorate, Strike Aircraft Test Directorate, Rotary Aircraft Test Directorate, and Naval Test Pilot School.

Under the command of Officer-in-Charge Captain John A. Dunaway, Antisubmarine Aircraft Test Directorate was tasked to support the fleet through the flight test and evaluation of aircraft systems for the VP, VS, VAW, VQ, VR, and VT squadrons. In order to more closely identify itself with the communities to which it was responsible, the directorate was renamed Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate in June 1986. In May 1995, the organization officially became a squadron and was renamed Naval Force Aircraft Test Squadron under the command of Captain Stuart A. Ashton. In order to more closely align itself with the squadrons it serves, in May 2002, under the command of Captain Steven R. Eastburg, the squadron was redesignated Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Twenty.

External Links

* [http://www.navair.navy.mil/force/index.htm VX-20 Official Website]