Dennis Is New HSL-46 Skipper

Dennis, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., had served as the executive officer of HSL-46 since May 2006. Assuming command, he said he looks forward to continuing Litchfield's record of success.

"This is an excellent squadron and I will do my best to maintain that pedigree set by previous COs like Litchfield," Dennis said. "As it has in the past, development of our sailors will be a top priority, so members of this squadron will be successful in all facets of their lives."

Dennis, who earned his bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a master's degree from the United States Naval War College, first reported aboard Naval Station Mayport in April 1992, when he served on multiple detachments with HSL-44.

From July 1995 to October 1999, Dennis served Commander, Carrier Group-SEVEN as Flag Lieutenant and Director, Air Warfare (CNO-N88) as a Flag Aide, and in December 1999, returned to Mayport as Operations officer and instructor pilot at HSL-40. From November 2000 to December 2002, Dennis once again served aboard HSL-44 as Maintenance officer and as Officer-in-Charge of Detachment Six, deployed aboard USS Elrod (FFG 55) as the Navy's first NVG, Hellfire, Penguin detachment assigned to Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean.

Just before reporting to HSL-46, Dennis served at US EUCOM as Officer-In-Charge, Frequency Management Field Office Brussels, Belgium, where he was an attach and U.S. representative to NATO.

Dennis said he looked forward to assuming his next post at the helm of HSL-46 and had a clear direction in which he hoped to take the command.

"My goal for the squadron is to maintain a level of readiness that will allow us to meet our mission at every opportunity, but also maintain a command climate that allows our sailors from the top to the bottom to develop and advance both professionally and personally."

Litchfield, a native of Houston, Texas, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1988, and was assigned to HSL-44 the Swampfoxes for his first fleet tour.

Litchfield served as commanding officer of HSL-46 from May of 2006 to June 2007. During this time, he oversaw the deployment of six detachments to areas including the Persian Gulf, the West Coast of Africa, South America and the Eastern Pacific in support of missions including the Global War on Terrorism, Humanitarian Relief Support and Counter Narco-Terrorism Operations. Under his leadership, HSL-46 was also awarded the Sikorsky Aircraft 2006 Golden Wrench Award for superior aircraft maintenance.

Litchfield departs HSL-46 for U.S. Northern Command, Standing Joint Forces in Colorado Springs, Co.

Looking back on his time as commanding officer of HSL-46, Litchfield said he will carry with him a host of memories, but said he would remember one period of time especially vividly.

"Late Summer in 2006 will always ring clear in my memory of 46. With eight planes in major maintenance and a live hellfire exercise on the horizon, the squadron came together as one unit to successfully prepare five separate detachments for deployment. Also during that time, I had the pleasure of promoting eight guys to chief."

Litchfield said his best memories from HSL-46 will come from experiences like those.

"I really enjoyed being able to tell people they were going to advance, whether it is was a first class to chief, or an airmen to petty officer," Litchfield said. "That has been the best part of my job."

The new executive officer of HSL-46 is Cmdr. Doug Thompson. Originally from Ocean Springs, Miss., he graduated from the University of Mississippi in May 1990 and was designated a Naval Aviator in February 1992.

Thompson most recently served in Washington, DC where he completed a Legislative Fellowship with the United States Senate, serving on the personal staff of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.