Patterson Takes Reins As HSL-44 CO

Patterson of Richmond, Va., has served as executive officer of HSL-44 since June 2006. Patterson earned a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University and a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. His first operational squadron was HSL-42 where he served on multiple detachments.

From 1997 to 1999 Patterson served as Flight Deck Officer and Assistant Air officer along with qualifying as Officer of the Deck (underway) and Command Duty officer while attached to the USS Nassau (LHA-4). In December 1999 he returned to HSL-40 as Maintenance officer, Administrative officer and Instructor pilot. He transferred to HSL-48 in October 2001 to serve as Maintenance officer and officer in charge of Detachment Seven aboard USS Kauffman (FFG-59). Prior to reporting to HSL-44 as executive officer, he served as executive assistant to the Director of Operations.

Mayes is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, and graduated from Purdue University in April 1988. He was assigned to Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for his first tour, flying UH-1N Huey. From 1991 to 1996 Mayes was attached to HSL-48 where he deployed aboard various ships: the USS Boone (FFG-28) to the Mediterranean and Red Sea, the USS Spruance (DD-963) patrolling the waters off Haiti, and the USS Comte De Grasse (DD-974) deployed to the Caribbean and South America. In January 1996, Mayes reported to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington D.C. as a Senate Liaison officer. In 1998 and 2002, Mayes attended Joint Professional Military Education, phase I and II. He was next assigned to the Office of the Vice President of the United States in Washington D.C. as the Naval Aide to the Vice President, serving Vice President Richard B Cheney. In March 2005, Mayes reported to HSL-44 the "Swamp Foxes" as the executive officer and subsequently as commanding officer in June 2006.

Cmdr. Gary Mayes

Mayes served as commanding officer of HSL-44 from June 2006 to July 2007. During this time, he over saw 10 detachments in support of missions including Global War on Terrorism, counter narco-terrorism, and humanitarian relief, following the nation's greatest disaster, Hurricane Katrina. Under his leadership, HSL-44 was also awarded the Capt. Arnold Jay Isabel trophy for tactical excellence.

The new executive officer of HSL-44 is Cmdr. Richard Davis. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1990 and was designated Naval Aviator in 1992. Davis most recently served on the Joint Staff Strategic Plans Directorate where he was assigned to work Afghanistan and South East Asia and as executive assistant to the Deputy Director Politico Military Affairs-Asia.