The Board of County Commissioners approved a lease on May 3, 2016, permitting Navy Annapolis Flight Center (NAFC) to occupy space in the terminal at St. Mary's County Regional Airport.

George Erickson, director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation, told commissioners the county had negotiated rent of a little over $8 per square foot with a 2.5 percent annual escalator for the vacated University of Maryland space in the terminal building. Erickson said the proposed rent would increase the county’s receipts compared with prior subleases and would allow the county to collect 100 percent of tie‑down fees for four to ten permanent tie‑down spaces NAFC plans to use; the county expects tie‑down fees in the neighborhood of $60 per month per space.

Mister Kennedy, CEO of Navy Annapolis Flight Center, described NAFC as a Part 141 flight school with a history connected to naval aviation training and said the operation already partners with Community College of Baltimore County and Liberty University to provide ground and flight instruction. Kennedy said NAFC operates training for veterans and cited GI Bill benefits that can cover flight training when partnered with approved college programs.

Commissioners asked about aircraft availability and scheduling for students, and Kennedy said NAFC currently stations four aircraft at the airport and would add aircraft as student load grows. Commissioners and airport staff also discussed prior arrangements with Piedmont and how the county’s share of tie‑down revenue would change under the new lease.

A commissioner moved to approve the lease, and the board voted to authorize the commission president and department director to execute related documents.

Officials said NAFC will operate without county subsidy and that the arrangement is intended to support local flight training, potential job and educational opportunities and to bring activity into the airport terminal.