Originally created Thursday, June 11, 2009
New CO For HSL-48
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During Sniegowski's tour as commanding officer the squadron was very successful. Calendar year 2008 saw the deployment of a significant portion of the squadron, deploying a total of six detachments to sea for more than 3,000 embarked flight hours in support of a wide variety of operations and exercises stretching from South America to the Middle East.
Recently, Detachment Two, which deployed to the Eastern Pacific for Counter Drug Operations, succeeded in confiscating $720 million/24.3 metric tons of contraband that never made it to U.S. soil.
Detachment Five returned to the Squadron in early May, and was responsible for pioneering operations in the AFRICOM AOR, a new and challenging environment for the HSM community.
Banta was born at China Lake Naval Station, Calif., and is a 1991 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he earned a bachelor's degree in General Engineering. He was designated as a Naval Aviator on March 18, 1994.
Following flight school, Banta worked for COMNAVBASEJAX and USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16) before reporting to the Fleet Replacement Squadron at HSL-40. He completed his first operational tour with HSL-44 and his next tour as an instructor with HSL-40.
After leaving HSL-40, Banta completed a tour with Commander, Carrier Group Three for duty as the Assistant Air Operations Officer. He then returned to HSL-40 with follow on orders to HSL-46 for a Department Head/OIC tour.
He detached from HSL-46 in October of 2004 and was assigned to the Pentagon where he served on the OPNAV staff in the N81 Department conducting analysis for the Navy's role in the Global War on Terrorism. During this tour he screened for Operational Aviation Command. Banta checked in to the HSL-48 Vipers as XO on March 20, 2008.
Cmdr. Donald Kennedy will join the Vipers as the new Executive Officer. Kennedy is from Clinton, Mississippi, and graduated with honors and distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 where he earned a Masters of Arts in History with a minor in National Security Studies from the University of Maryland in 1993.
He also served as an instructor of naval history at the Naval Academy. He was designated as a Naval Aviator in April of 1995, and completed his first operational tour with the Vipers of HSL-48. He also completed tours with USS Austin (LPD 4), HSL-44, and the Joint Staff (J-6), where he screened for Operational Aviation Command.
The Vipers would like to welcome all past and present members, as well as family and friends, to attend the Change of Command in the HSL-48 Hangar at 10 a.m. on June 11, 2009.Award. Sniegowski will leave the Vipers for the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington D.C.
Banta was born at China Lake Naval Station, Calif., and is a 1991 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he earned a bachelor's degree in General Engineering. He was designated as a Naval Aviator on March 18, 1994.
Following flight school, Banta worked for COMNAVBASEJAX and USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16) before reporting to the Fleet Replacement Squadron at HSL-40. He completed his first operational tour with HSL-44 and his next tour as an instructor with HSL-40.
After leaving HSL-40, Banta completed a tour with Commander, Carrier Group Three for duty as the Assistant Air Operations Officer. He then returned to HSL-40 with follow on orders to HSL-46 for a Department Head/OIC tour.
He detached from HSL-46 in October of 2004 and was assigned to the Pentagon where he served on the OPNAV staff in the N81 Department conducting analysis for the Navy's role in the Global War on Terrorism. During this tour he screened for Operational Aviation Command. Banta checked in to the HSL-48 Vipers as XO on March 20, 2008.
Cmdr. Donald Kennedy will join the Vipers as the new Executive Officer. Kennedy is from Clinton, Mississippi, and graduated with honors and distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 where he earned a Masters of Arts in History with a minor in National Security Studies from the University of Maryland in 1993.
He also served as an instructor of naval history at the Naval Academy. He was designated as a Naval Aviator in April of 1995, and completed his first operational tour with the Vipers of HSL-48. He also completed tours with USS Austin (LPD 4), HSL-44, and the Joint Staff (J-6), where he screened for Operational Aviation Command.
