Southern Maryland Navy Alliance briefs county commissioners on workforce, contracting and laboratory needs at Pax River

Dale Moore, president of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, told St. Mary's County commissioners on Oct. 21 that the alliance is working to raise awareness of the region’s role in naval aviation testing and to advocate for resources and policies that support work at Naval Air Station Patuxent River (Pax River). "We inform and communicate with a single voice best we can so that there's a consistent message up in Annapolis, on the Hill, in the Pentagon," Moore said.

Why it matters: Pax River and the defense ecosystem around it are the county’s largest economic driver, Moore said during a 25‑minute briefing. The alliance described how federal contracting, laboratory revitalization and workforce programs support local jobs and business opportunities and identified several facilities and procurement practices it says deserve near‑term attention.

Key points from the briefing: - Economic scale: The alliance told commissioners that Pax River’s flight‑test and systems work represent a…