Rear Adm. Scott Dillon relieved Rear Adm. Brian Corey as the commander of Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division during a change of command ceremony at China Lake on April 19.
“I called [my wife] and I said, ‘What do you think; how about China Lake?’ and she said let’s do it,” Corey said in reference to his first active duty tour with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 over 20 years ago. “That was the beginning of an amazing set of friendships, an amazing set of professional lessons and the amazing beginning of the delivery of combat capability out here, and I’ve been truly humbled and honored to be a part of that effort.”
Corey will be assigned as program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons in Patuxent River, Maryland while Dillon assumes the position of Naval Air Systems Command’s assistant commander for Test and Evaluation in addition to his NAWCWD commander duties.
Dillon, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991 and is a graduate of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Class 117. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a Master of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.
“To say that I’ve spent quite a bit of time at NAVAIR during the course of my career may be a bit of an understatement,” Dillon said. “During that time, I’ve tried to learn as much as I could about NAVAIR’s capabilities. I thought that I had a pretty good idea of the role that NAWCWD played in that process and the capabilities that NAWCWD brings to the table. I’ve been out here for the last few weeks and seeing WD’s current capabilities and latest initiatives close up is nonetheless truly impressive.”
Dillon reported to Patrol Squadron 1 at Barber’s Point Hawaii following designation as a naval aviator, completing deployments as a P-3 tactical coordinator and mission commander. He was later assigned to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School/Naval Postgraduate School Cooperative Program, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 20 as well as deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Djibouti, Africa.
“As the rest of the acquisition world has been stepping up recently and searching for ways to be more innovative and increase speed to the fleet,” Dillon said, “this [NAWCWD] team has been busy providing concrete examples of what can be done for quite some time.”
His own acquisition experience includes providing program engineering support for P-3 aircraft, serving as the integrated product team lead at the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program Office, and MH-60R team lead in the H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopters Program Office in addition to assignment as the aerospace engineering duty officer community detailer at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee.
“He’s done a tremendous job with every one of those challenges we gave him,” said Vice Adm. Paul Grosklags, NAVAIR commander and guest speaker for the ceremony. “I’m confident that you all are transitioning from one set of good hands into another.”
Prior to taking command of NAWCWD, Dillon served tours as a military assistant to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, and as vice commander for NAVAIR. Most recently, he served as commander of the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Virginia.
“It really is good to be here,” Dillon said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I want to thank all of you for the warm welcome and for making this opportunity possible. I’m really looking forward to the great things we are going to accomplish together.”