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 major economic footprint for Southern Maryland and that the region must better communicate that value to state and federal decision‑makers.
- Workforce programs: The alliance highlighted the Southern Maryland 2030 workforce initiative and related apprenticeship and internship metrics: the presentation cited 181 450‑hour apprenticeships, 128 college interns, and more than 2,000 high‑school “spark event” participants across three counties over recent years.
- Facilities and capital projects: Speakers discussed significant facility needs at Pax River, including a second anechoic chamber, a follow‑on catapult upgrade (EMALS capability), and an Advanced Prototype Facility (APF‑3) intended to house next‑generation aircraft work. Moore said the alliance has tracked moves in the Defense Department’s priorities and is advocating to keep those projects properly funded and sited.
- Acquisition and local industry: The alliance urged more use of local systems integration and small‑business contracting vehicles, including IDIQs and other transaction authorities (OTAs), to retain more work in the region rather than award large prime contracts elsewhere.
- Energy and resilience: Moore said the alliance is assessing energy resilience options for Pax River, including small modular reactors, and noted the potential implications for utility capacity and future data center demand.

Commissioners asked about specific projects and timelines. A commissioner raised lab revitalization and the size of past cost estimates for major projects; another asked about how the alliance coordinates with state commerce and local economic development. Jim Bolin, the alliance’s executive vice president, described examples of local systems integration work and said the alliance is pushing to make contracting opportunities accessible to Southern Maryland firms.

Moore said the alliance works with a small paid executive assistant and a lobbyist but is otherwise volunteer‑run and relies on partnerships with the Patuxent Partnership, KBR, NAWCAD leadership and academic programs. He cited coordination with the Maryland Aerospace and Technology Commission and said the alliance helped secure inclusion for St. Mary's County in that state commission.

Direct quote: "We have a world class learning‑driven innovation ecosystem in Southern Maryland," Moore said. "The most collaborative technology, education, defense, economic and workforce community in the nation."

What commissioners took away: Commissioners thanked the alliance and asked to remain informed about major initiatives that could affect the county's economy and workforce. Several commissioners noted concern about preserving local intellectual capital and the need to sustain the region's talent pipeline as programs and facilities evolve.

Ending: The alliance invited commissioners and staff to its annual dinner next week and said it will continue to monitor appropriations and acquisition changes affecting naval aviation and related industries.