US Navy’s HSM-41 Gets New Commander

The “Seahawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California, June 25.

At the ceremony, Cmdr. Gregory S. Thoroman relieved Cmdr. Brent C. Gaut as the commanding officer of HSM-41.

As HSM-41’s commanding officer, Gaut led more than 700 Sailors and civilians in the operation and maintenance of 28 MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters and four state-of-the-art simulators, and was responsible for training West Coast MH-60R fleet replacement pilots and air crewmen.

Gaut’s next duty station will be the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, South Carolina.

Thoroman’s career as a naval aviator includes assignments with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 37 aboard USS Chosin (CG 65) as part of the USS Constellation (CV 64) Battle Group in support of Operation Southern Watch. He also served as flag lieutenant for commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5, USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

He completed his department head tour with HSL-51 as the officer-in-charge of Detachment 5 deploying aboard USS Lassen (DDG 82) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines, and the command’s maintenance officer. Thoroman served as executive officer and commanding officer of the “Easyriders” of HSL-37 from November 2010 to April 2013.

HSM-41’s mission is to train naval aviators, air crewmen, and aircraft maintainers to fight, fly and fix the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter.

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Image: US Navy