Adm Dougherty takes the helm at Naval Air Systems Command
Peter Felstead
US Navy Vice Admiral John ‘Doc’ Dougherty IV assumed command of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on 1 August 2025.
Adm Dougherty relieved Vice Admiral Carl Chebi, who retired after 38 years of naval service.
Adm Dougherty brings an extensive combination of acquisition and technical experience to his new role, having served as commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division and NAVAIR Chief Engineer.
In his first message to the workforce, Adm Dougherty outlined NAVAIR’s ‘playbook’ for delivering readiness and capability, emphasizing a ‘fleet first’ approach to advancing operational readiness and effectiveness, prioritising speed, executing with precision, tracking performance and owning results, and building trust to align efforts and enable data-informed decisions at the lowest levels.
A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Adm Dougherty graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1995 and holds both a Master of Business Administration and Master of Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. His extensive background includes operational tours flying the F/A-18C Hornet fighter, with over 1,200 flight hours and 300 carrier landings, followed by senior acquisition roles managing critical programmes including precision strike weapons, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and the navy’s Next Generation Air Dominance programme.
“It’s a privilege to lead this talented team as we continue advancing naval aviation capabilities and readiness,” Adm Dougherty was quoted as saying in a NAVAIR press release. “Our success is measured by the fleet’s success, and that mindset will continue to drive our priorities moving forward.”
Under Adm Chebi’s leadership NAVAIR achieved and sustained the highest readiness levels in the history of naval aviation, identified over USD 3 billion (EUR 2.59 billion) in savings to reinvest in naval aviation priorities and delivered capabilities that are changing the way the naval aviation trains and fights, NAVAIR noted.
“I’m incredibly proud of the NAVAIR team’s dedication to delivering the capabilities the fleet needs, when they need them,” said Chebi. “I have full confidence Doc will lead this exceptional workforce to deliver next-level capabilities and readiness for our warfighters.”
