PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced that Ms. Steffanie Easter
(pictured at left) has been named as the new Assistant Commander for Acquisition (AIR-1.0). She serves as the Acquisition Executive for NAVAIR and executes acquisition responsibilities and management accountability for eight program management offices. She also has responsibilities as the leader of the command-wide NAVAIR Acquisition and Program Management Competency, managing approximately 720 civilian and military personnel.
"AIR-1.0 is a dynamic organization and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this team. I look forward to continuing our efforts toward Acquisition Excellence," said Easter.
Easter served as the Deputy Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO-T) from December 2002 to January 2007. She was responsible for providing acquisition, engineering and technical services to the Navy for the F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, EA-18G Growler, E-2C Hawkeye, C-2A Greyhound, Aircraft Protection Systems, and Air Traffic Control Systems and Combat Identification.
In November 2001, Easter transferred to the PEO (T) staff to serve as the Chief of Staff and head of Acquisition. She served in this position until selected to the Senior Executive Service in December 2002.
In February 2000, she assumed the position of NAVAIR Principal Deputy Program Manager for the Advanced Tactical Aircraft and Protection Systems Program Office. She led multiple program teams comprised of acquisition managers, engineers, logisticians, configuration managers and budget financial analysts.
In January 1997, Easter was assigned to the NAVAIR E-2C Hawkeye Program Office. She served as the Deputy for Acquisition and then as the Hawkeye Program Team Lead. She managed a team of approximately 250 people and was instrumental in the establishment of a $1 billion procurement contract that crossed multiple fiscal years.
In November 1991, she moved on to become the Systems Engineer for the Tomahawk Program where she was responsible for all aspects of weapon system integration. In December 1994, she was assigned to the Air-to-Air Missiles Program as the Deputy Program Manager for Special Projects, and later assumed responsibility for the Sparrow and Phoenix Missile Programs.
In March 1989, she was assigned as the NAVAIR Avionics Systems Project Officer Engineer for the SH-60B Seahawk and Executive Transport Aircraft. In this capacity she led an engineering team in the definition and integration of a $150 million major development program to upgrade the avionics suite on the aircraft. She also had technical responsibility for the Executive Transport Helicopters and routinely worked with the White House Communications Agency in developing the various communication systems requirements.
She began her civil servant career in November 1985 as an Engineer and Scientist Developmental Program (ESDP) support equipment engineer at NAVAIR. She held this position for approximately four years where she managed the development and procurement of all support solutions for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Weapons Control Systems.
Easter is a 1985 graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. In addition she holds a Masters of Science in Engineering Management from the Catholic University of America and is a graduate of both the Defense Systems Management College (DSMC) and the NAVAIR Senior Executive Management Development Program.
Easter has 21 years of civil service.