POINT MUGU : Naval Air Station Commander Named

A new commanding officer has been appointed to run Point Mugu Naval Air Station.

Capt. Paul J. Valovich assumed command of the station last week.

He had been vice commander and deputy laboratory director of the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake since 1986.

In his new position, Valovich is responsible for a huge spectrum of station activities, said Lt. Commander Gene Okamoto.

“It’s like a small city here, and he’s sort of like the city manager or the mayor,” Okamoto said.

Valovich is responsible for the public works, housing, supply, security, recreation and administration departments, as well for aircraft maintenance and the chapel on base.

Valovich, a native of Charleroi, Pa., graduated in 1965 from Purdue University’s Naval ROTC program with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1973, he received a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. Valovich is also a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, and flew more than 200 combat missions in Southeast Asia.

Valovich has no authority over the Pacific Missile Test Center, which is run by Rear Adm. George H. Strohshal, and located at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station.

“PMTC is like a renter on the base,” Okamoto said, terming the arrangement between PMTC and the Naval Air Station “tenant command.”