LCDR Kurt Parsons was honored with the Meritorious Service Medal at the time of his retirement from the Navy on April 27, 2012. He was recognized for outstanding meritorious service as Maintenance Officer, Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from December 2009 through April 2012.
LCDR Parsons was directly responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of four P-3 Orions, two C-12 Guardrails, four Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Systems, and the U.S. Navy's only manned airship. During his tour, VXS-1 was able to efficiently execute over 3,200 Class A mishap-free flight hours and 20 airborne science and technology projects in support of the naval research enterprise.
Serving as the Detachment Officer-in-Charge, LCDR Parsons trained and deployed a diverse team of military and civilian personnel to Iraq in support of research on emergent Counter-IED radar technologies. As the NP-3D Aircraft Commander, he was responsible for the overall success of the operation, which resulted in over 150 combat hours flown protecting U.S. military forces in harm's way, a testament to his magnificent airmanship and tactical expertise.
In the Meritorious Service Medal citation, RADM Matthew Klunder, Chief of Naval Research, noted that LCDR Parson's superior performance onboard VXS-1 was the capstone to 20 years of honorable and dedicated service.