Ayala takes command of VX-30 ‘Bloodhounds’

Official Statements

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “U.S. Navy Cmdr. J. Anderson Ayala took command of the “Bloodhounds” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 30 from Capt. Barry Carmody during a Nov. 10 ceremony at Point Mugu. VX-30 tests aircraft and weapons systems. Its aircraft also clear test areas and gather data on the Point Mugu Sea Range and worldwide.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “Five types of aircraft surrounded the crowd in VX-30’s main hangar: the P-3 Orion, KC-130T Hercules, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, NC-20G and P-8A Poseidon. Guest speaker Rear Adm. Eric Gardner pointed out “the mighty Orion over there.” “It’s a personal favorite,” he said. Gardner serves as the principal deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Munitions. His office speeds weapons to the fleet. Carmody once served as Gardner’s deputy program manager for the P-8 and asked him to speak.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “What comes to mind when I think of Barry is results,” Gardner said. “He doesn’t make a lot of noise.” Gardner also joked that Ayala has big shoes to fill. “But I see you brought your own shoes,” he said. His only advice was to take care of the Bloodhounds. Then he reminded the squadron who was counting on its work. “Right now there are Americans in harm’s way,” Gardner said. “They care that the equipment they’re using does what it’s supposed to do reliably.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “Carmody called the squadron’s Sailors and civilians “the reason we are here.” During his tenure, they logged about 4,800 hours on 1,400 flights. They also left home for 19 detachments, traveling from Australia to Puerto Rico. At one point they supported tests in two hemispheres more than 13 hours apart. A squadron KC-130T even flew as a stand-in missile in Australia so the Army could rehearse its first overseas Typhon missile launch.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “Operations specialists controlled tests on the Point Mugu Sea Range every day. Aviation electronics technicians went to U.S. 7th Fleet to keep Angry Kitten electronic warfare pods working. The E-2 team used two aircraft in the first cross-platform Advanced Integrated Fire Control events. Carmody led more than $80 million in modernization to bring the P-8A and the Gulfstream NC-37B into the squadron. VX-30’s first P-8A arrived at Point Mugu in June. It’s also the first one ever built. The squadron trained the first pilots for the NC-37B range support jet.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “Range aircraft flew more than 100 missions to gather data and photograph tests. And on one of them a P-3 Orion was the first aircraft to capture images of NASA’s Artemis II Orion capsule returning from the moon. The Bloodhounds tracked Orion home. Capt. Christopher Putre oversees VX-30 as commodore of Naval Test Wing Pacific. “He’s a skipper that knows the test business,” Putre said of Carmody. The commodore praised Carmody’s knack for explaining technical details to any audience. Then Carmody spoke to his wife and kids.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “You could take these five airplanes away tomorrow,” Carmody said. “But as long as there are five dinner plates at our table, my life is full and complete.” Carmody said goodbye to Ayala and the squadron. “Good luck, my friend, and Godspeed, Bloodhounds,” he said. Putre presided over the change of command. He said Ayala “has both the aptitude and the attitude for leading VX-30.” Ayala had been the squadron’s chief test pilot for almost two years. He became the squadron’s 23rd commanding officer.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “His daughter pressed his commanding officer patch onto his flight suit while his wife held her. Then his family put his name on a squadron E-2D Hawkeye. Cmdr. Nathan Durham succeeds Ayala as chief test pilot. Carmody will remain with Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division.”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “Over the next year the squadron will bring in the new Gulfstream and retire the P-3 Orion. The new commanding officer called VX-30 the best squadron in the Navy. “I’m officially the last person that’s keeping you from the refreshments and the aircraft,” Ayala said. He thanked his mother for “always picking up the phone on my way home.” Then he passed along her advice. “Growing up, my mother always told me, ‘Ponte las pilas,’” he said. “The literal translation is ‘put on your batteries.’”

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, November 12: “He joked that he isn’t a robot. The phrase means “get it together, dial in your focus and get moving.” Ayala told the Bloodhounds they already live by it. “You have made extraordinary and complex flight test operations look routine,” he said. Then Ayala described the tour he wants for his people. “It’s about knowing how and when to recharge,” Ayala said. “This tour should be the place where you catch your breath, sharpen your edge and prepare for whatever comes next.”