Failla Takes Command Of Proud Warriors

The ceremony marked the conclusion of a successful tour for Gordon, under whose leadership the squadron continued its award-winning tradition by earning its third consecutive Battle "E," its eighth consecutive Retention Excellence award, and the Golden Wrench award.

This tour is just another example of excellence that is added to a long list of spectacular achievements throughout Gordon's career to include: the accumulation of over 3500 flight hours in the SH-60B, being named HSL-44's 1995 Detachment Maintenance Officer of the Year, being awarded the 1994 Commander HSL Wing Atlantic Fleet Aviation Valor and Embarked Aircrew of the Year Awards, the Sikorsky Rescue Pin for a daring night high seas rescue, and a second Sikorsky Rescue Pin for his participation in the heroic rescue of six civilians and one aircrewman atop a burning smokestack.

Retired Capt. Neil W. T. Hogg, former commanding officer of the HSL-46 "Grandmasters" and current Deputy Director for the Program/Budget Coordination Division (FMB3) within the Department of the Navy's Office of Budget was the guest speaker for the ceremony.

Failla's 15 months as the executive officer of HSL-42, along with the knowledge and experience he has gained throughout his career, has prepared him for command. In his remarks Failla thanked the many people who have supported him and helped shape him for his time in command.

Failla, a native of Centereach, New York, graduated from The Military College of South Carolina, The Citadel in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and was commissioned through the school's Naval ROTC Program.

Following commissioning, Commander Failla completed primary and advanced fixed wing and helicopter training in Milton, Florida at VT-6 and HT-18 respectively. He earned his "Wings of Gold" September 03, 1993 and was selected to serve as an SH-60B "Seahawk" helicopter pilot assigned to the world famous " Proud Warriors" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four-Two (HSL-42) Mayport, Florida. Failla's operational tours include HSL-42 Detachment Administration, Operations and Maintenance Officer (Jun 1994 - NOV 1997), HSL-44 Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Training Department Head (Sept 2000-Feb 2002), and HSL-42 Detachment Officer-In-Charge and Squadron Operation Officer (Feb 2002 - Dec 2004). During these tours he completed long deployments to the Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf, the Eastern Pacific, and the Caribbean. During this span he also completed six smaller deployments to the Caribbean in support of Counter-Drug Operations, Humanitarian Aid, UNITAS and two BALTOPS deployments. Failla's shore duty assignments include an instructor pilot tour at HSL-40 (Nov 1997-Sept 2000) and Pentagon tour on the OPNAV staff as lead aviation programmer at N705/N802 (Jan 2005-Jun 2007) where he earned a Financial Management subspecialty.

A graduate of the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, Failla has earned honors as HSL-42 Squadron Maintenance Officer of the Year (1997), HSL-40 Pilot of the Year (1999), HSL-42 Squadron Officer of the year (2004), COMHSLWINGLANT Officer of the Year (2004) and the 2004 Commander Naval Air Forces Leadership Award. He has also been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (three awards) and various campaign, unit and service awards. He has logged over 3000 hours and hundreds of small deck landings in the SH-60B.

In his closing remarks Failla said that, "We will continue the tradition of excellence that HSL-42 is known for around the world and we will continue to live up to the Proud Warrior motto, 'Everyone Succeeds.'" At the end of the ceremony Skipper Failla handed over the job of Executive Officer to Cmdr. Brad Collins.

Collins said, "I am glad to be back in the LAMPS community and I really look forward to working with the men and woman of the HSL-42 Proud Warriors"

Collins is a native of Lake Forest, California. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. His last assignment prior to reporting to HSL-42, was on the staff of the U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska.