Jonathan Beaton

Experience

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  Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE (VFA-81)

  Aug 2009 - Mar 2012

  Operational Junior Officer Tour, F/A-18E Super Hornet Pilot

  Deployed three times over the course of two years and eight months, which included supporting Operation Unified Response, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and Operation New Dawn (OND). In Operation Unified Response, the United States Navy's humanitarian relief efforts in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, acted as liaison between helicopters flying from the USS CARL VINSON to landing zones around Port-au-Prince, facilitating delivery of food and water supplies as well as medical evacuation of civilians requiring urgent medical care. In OEF and OND, flew 34 combat sorties over Afghanistan and Iraq for a total of 220 combat hours. Show less

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  United States Naval Test Pilot School

  Apr 2012 - Jun 2013

  Student Test Pilot, Class 143

  Flew and evaluated the JAS-39D Gripen in Sweden for my final project. Drafted a 50-page test plan, optimized to complete as many performance, functional, and handling qualities-related test points as possible during three by one-hour flights. Completed all engineering analysis and detailed results, which was published in a 100+ page report. Final project report was selected as the top paper for the Fixed Wing syllabus. Finished as the number one graduate in the Fixed Wing syllabus and the overall number two graduate for Class 143. Show less

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  Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31)

  Jul 2013 - Aug 2015

  Developmental Test Pilot, F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet

  Served as the H12 software project officer, the single largest software update at the time, both in terms of dollars and number of requirements, for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Overall, it was my responsibility to ensure the integration of new displays, a new APG-79 radar tape, upgraded L-16 (MIDS-JTRS) capabilities, the Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Block I pod, Harpoon Block II+ missile, and more, could, in the aggregate, actually decrease operator workload while increasing lethality. Additionally:- Authored the H12 test plan, which consisted of identifying the full set of resources, support test equipment, timelines, and configurations necessary to effectively and efficiently test all requirements levied by PMA-265.- Presented the overall test plan to the Chief Test Pilot, as part of the Test Readiness Review process. Evaluated all entrance and exit criteria, with a specific focus on safety, and received concurrence to proceed into test.- Wrote post-flight reports after each H12 mission summarizing what test procedures were accomplished, potential anomalies discovered, and lessons learned for the next flight. - Identified specific issues that would be sent back to the software developer for adjudication. During this period, personally authored 50 software anomaly reports.Executed first flights of major classified programs. All of which led to selection as a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and as VX-31's Test Pilot of the Year, 2014. Show less

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  Strike Fighter Squadron TWO SEVEN (VFA-27)

  Oct 2015 - Apr 2018

  Department Head, F/A-18E Super Hornet Pilot

  As an operational Department Head, experienced the broadest possible leadership experience by serving sequentially as supervisor for all four squadron departments: safety, administration, maintenance, and operations:- During the 12 months as Maintenance Officer, managed aircraft maintenance, man-power, training, and administrative requirements for 6 Officers, 198 enlisted personnel, and 13 F/A-18E aircraft. In order to maintain the highest standards of professionalism of the junior maintainers, worked with my senior maintenance leadership team to institute a new plane captain board, designed to test and increase the effectiveness of the Line division. As part of the board, I met the candidates at the aircraft, presented them with an emergency situation, and watched to see if they correctly walked through the emergency procedures.- During 6 months as Operations Officer, was responsible for the management, scheduling, and training of 18 pilots and 13 F/A-18E aircraft. Organized and led the squadron's successful execution through three major maintenance evolutions, the Transpacific movement of 8 aircraft, a 6-week Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program detachment, a dedicated missile shoot out of NAS Pt. Mugu, CA and tri-sited operations between NAF Atsugi, Japan; MCAS Iwakuni, Japan; and NAS Fallon, NV.- As Safety Officer, authored 6 HAZREPs, published for the entire naval aviation community, which directly resulted in winning the Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, FY16Q2 Aviation Safety awardRanked for 13 months as the #1 Department Head by two back-to-back Commanding Officers. Show less

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  F-35 Joint Program Office

  May 2018 - Sept 2020

  Executive Officer, F-35 Integrated Test Team, Joint Program Office (F-35 Test Pilot)

  Hand-selected as the Navy’s first, mission systems, developmental test pilot for the F-35. Led a 75-person team comprised of eight different organizations to manage the disparate priorities of F-35 flight test occurring across the United States. Oversaw the delineation of capabilities testing between F-35 developmental and operational test squadrons, including: (1) formulating new processes for integrated test execution and reporting; (2) long-term planning of flight clearances, aircraft modifications, and weapons allocation; and (3) coordinating deficiency identification and classification amongst test stakeholders. Additionally:- Responsible for helping lead, evaluate, and document key interoperability issues between the F-35 and the rest of the carrier air wing.- Served on the Requirements Working Group and provided recommendations on prioritizing requirements across software and hardware builds and the associated timelines involved.- Served as project pilot for the implementation of the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS) on the F-35, a vital addition to the airplane which will save both the pilot and aircraft from impacting the ground in cases of spatial disorientation or G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC). The F-35 AGCAS team was honored with the prestigious Collier Trophy in 2018 due to “successfully completing a rapid design, integration, and flight test of critical, lifesaving technology for the worldwide F-35 fleet.” Show less

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  National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

  Sept 2020 - now

  Government PM for a $4B+ imagery satellite program, accountable for all aspects of cost, schedule, performance, and risk. Leads a diverse team of government managers, engineers, and Aerospace consultants, responsible for the satellite vehicle development and assembly, integration, and test. As both Deputy Chief and Lead Flight Director, managed the training, development, and operational readiness of the initialization team; led the response to and resolution of all major anomalies; directly responsible for the health and safety of a first-of-a-kind, $2B+ satellite vehicle.

  • Program Manager, GEOINT Program Office

    Apr 2022 - now

  • Deputy Chief, Flight Operations Division, GEOINT Program Office

    Sept 2020 - Apr 2022
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  BAE Systems, Inc.

  May 2024 - now

  Program Manager, Space & Mission Systems

  Program Manager under the National Space Portfolio, BAE Space & Mission Systems