Commandant, Naval District Washington, Rear Adm. Charles Rock, named Naval Air Station Patuxent River the Naval District Washington Region winner of the Installation Quality Award-Large Shore Category, which recognizes quality in installation management, program excellence, and community outreach.

As a result, NAS Patuxent (Pax) River will advance to the next CNIC level of competition as the NDW nominee, facing other regions around the world for the Navywide award.

"Determining our region nominees was made difficult by close competition in the areas of consideration," Rock said. "While each [of the installations] submitted a winning package, I have selected Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Naval Support Activity Washington (Small Shore Category) to represent Naval District Washington by competing at the Commander, Navy Installations Command level."

Rock went on to thank NAS Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Starkey "for continuing to strive for excellence every day, while providing top-notch support to the men and women of the National Capital Region and their families."

All of the NDW installations were judged on air and port operations; fire and emergency management; security; safety and health; conservation efforts; planned or completed energy projects; facility improvement; property stewardship; fleet and family readiness; communications; and public relations.

"I'm extremely proud of the hard work of the NAS Pax River team," Starkey said. "NAS personnel performed superbly in their diverse areas of expertise throughout the year, but their most impressive accomplishment is their outstanding teamwork."

Winners of the CNIC-level Installation Excellence Award will go on to compete with installations from other branches of the military services for the Department of Defense-wide 2016 Commander in Chief Awards.

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