HSL-44 Has New Commander

Patterson's tenure as CO was marked with more than 15,000 mishap-free squadron flight hours, sending nine detachments to sea supporting operations across the globe. During Skipper Patterson's tour, 44 detachments were responsible for the first helicopter-assisted seizure of a semi-submersible drug running vessel.

Under the leadership and guidance of Patterson, HSL-44 had its first Airborne Use of Force (AUF), capturing 12 narco-terrorist vessels, seizing 10 tons of cocaine valued at more than $250 million.

Around the Horn of Africa, detachments provided airborne security allowing the re-taking of five merchant vessels held hostage by pirates, one of which held 20 hostages that were foreign nationals, prompting official recognition by the Korean State Department.

Davis is the son of a Naval Aviator and a graduate of Virginia Tech. He has deployed on several occasions to the Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf and the Caribbean. He has also served as the aide to the Commander, George Washington Battle Group and on the Joint Staff in Washington D.C. as part of the Strategy and Policy Directorate. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the Swamp where he has served two previous tours.

The newest arrival to the Swamp is Cmdr. Sean Haley having just completed the FRS as a Cat V Aviator. He is a seasoned aviator with over 2,700 hours. Haley was originally from Norristown, PA, is a Naval Academy Alumni, and was designated a Naval Aviator May 1994. He and has completed tours with HSL-48 (SWTI), 40, 46, a joint tour with the USAF, and was the Action Officer for the Joint Operations Division at the Pentagon.