Sean Burke takes Helm from Capt Hoke for NavAir PMA-262 UAS program office

Sean Burke, the new program manager for the
Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems program office (PMA-262),
provides remarks during his change of command ceremony
Dec. 18 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. (U.S. Navy photo)

Navy UAS program office welcomes new civilian leader, bidding farewell to retiring captain | NAVAIR - U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command - Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Research, Development, Acquisition, Test and Evaluation

MQ-4C Triton, normal occupant of PAX River Hanger

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The Navy’s Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program office (PMA-262) held a change-of-command ceremony Dec. 18 at Pax River while also bidding "fair winds and following seas" to its program manager, a 29-year naval officer.

Retiring Capt. Jim Hoke turned over command of the Navy’s largest UAS program office to his deputy program manager Sean Burke during the ceremony at the Triton UAS hangar.

Burke, a former Marine Corps officer and AH-1W helicopter pilot, brought his extensive operational experience to the acquisition community in 1998. Prior to joining PMA-262, he provided leadership and management to the Unmanned Carrier Launched Aerial Surveillance and Strike System, Joint Strike Fighter, EP-X, VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Replacement, among other missile, rocket and ammunition programs.

Burke held the PMA-262 deputy program manager position since April 2011. This change of command marks a significant milestone for Burke, as well as the program, by being one of only two civilians at NAVAIR to take the reins of large acquisition category (ACAT) 1 program.

MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAS - Naval Technology