Maritime Patrol Association Awarded Lockheed Martin Sponsorship

JACKSONVILLE, FL – In response to a corporate sponsorship program released by the Maritime Patrol Association (MPA) in October, Lockheed Martin became a MPA Gold Level corporate sponsor by awarding the organization with a financial contribution toward its mission to build a strong foundation of support for the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF).

“Lockheed Martin has been a partner with the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Patrol community for many years,” said Charles P. Martello, Director of Aviation Systems Sustainment for Lockheed Martin. “In recognition of our mutual support of the P-3 Orion and the critical maritime mission, we are proud to join MPA as a corporate sponsor.”

The sponsorship by Lockheed Martin will enable MPA to extend a number of opportunities to the members of the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, including; networking and education offered through a variety of meetings, events and media; awards, recognition and scholarships to those persons who have made significant contributions to this aviation community; and information regarding new developments and accomplishments in the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance community.

Incorporated earlier this year, MPA has grown from wishful thinking to an official Florida non-profit corporation in less than one year. With a membership count nearing 400 and growing every day, the organization is seeing an increased interaction among its members and an excitement for the future of the community that will ensure MPA’s continued growth. Members who register in the association’s first year will be considered “Plank Owners,” a historical tradition in the U.S. Navy whereby crew members of a newly commissioned ship had bragging rights to the “ownership” of one of the planks on the main deck.

A Florida not-for-profit corporation established in 2011 and headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, the Maritime Patrol Association is dedicated to its mission to be the premier professional organization representing the U.S. Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance community by promoting the use of the patrol and reconnaissance aircraft in the United States Navy. Its application for tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is currently pending.

For more information, contact September Wilkerson, Executive Director, at (904) 563-4036 or info@maritimepatrolassociation.org; or check out the MPA website at www.maritimepatrolassociation.org.

MPRF Centennial of Naval Aviation Celebration

MPRF CONA

April 4-6, 2011, NAS Jacksonville.

2011 MPRF Reunion and Symposium

The 2011 Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) Reunion and Symposium will be held the week of 4-8 April, 2011 onboard NAS Jacksonville, FL. Additionally, the Centennial of Naval Aviation will be celebrated at this year’s reunion through honoring the MPRF role in Naval Aviation history. There will be a full course of professional, historical and social events throughout the week. Over four hundred active and retired officer’s attended the 2010 Reunion at NAS Jacksonville. We hope to see as many former MPRF Warriors as possible in 2011, as this promises to be a Reunion like none other. More information soon to follow. Check out the ‘MPRF Heritage’ page on facebook.com for reunion updates, to share sea stories with current and former MPRF crew members and reconnect with long-lost shipmates.

-ENS John Leeds, VP-26

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