Navy Launches Jet Design Contest for Students

Students across Southern Maryland are invited to draw on their innovation and creativity to design the US Navy’s next jet in an inaugural competition by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.

“The aviation pros of Southern Maryland are the foundation of what makes America’s Navy the most capable and dominant force in the skies,” said NAWCAD commander and competition judge RADM John Dougherty IV. “The Navy’s Next Jet Competition builds up our community’s next generation of aviation excellence.”

The Navy’s Next Jet Competition launches on September 4, and invites kindergarten through 12th graders across St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert counties to submit their futuristic jet designs for a chance to win a tour of a NAWCAD squadron, meet the pilots, and experience naval aviation up close. The competition’s top designs will be featured on exhibit at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.

Naval aviation leaders will judge student designs across the competition’s three submission categories – K-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th grades – based on creativity, feasibility, and innovation. The competition details, including design and judging criteria, submission requirements, and more can be found here.

Designs are due by October 15.

NAWCAD will host the competition in partnership with the Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft, the office responsible for procurement and sustainment of the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ fleet of tactical aircraft and supportive equipment.

Based in Patuxent River, MD, NAWCAD has major sites in St. Inigoes, MD; Lakehurst, NJ; and Orlando, FL.