Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven Eight (HSM-78)
Active1 March 2012 - present[1]
Country United States of America
BranchUnited States Navy Seal United States Navy
TypeNavy helicopter squadron
RoleSurface warfare (SUW)
Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)
Electronic warfare (EW)
SizeApproximately 300 personnel
Part ofCarrier Air Wing 2, Carrier Strike Group 1
Garrison/HQNAS North Island, California
Nickname(s)Blue Hawks
Motto(s)Red, White, Blue Hawks! -- The Standard is Excellence!
Commanders
Commanding OfficerCDR Justin "Muffin" Eckhoff, USN
Executive OfficerCDR David "DT" Terry, USN
Command Master ChiefCMDCM Erika J. Lavallais, USN
Aircraft flown
HelicopterSikorsky MH-60R Seahawk

Overview

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN EIGHT (HSM-78) "Blue Hawks" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California. HSM-78 was established on March 1, 2012 and is currently assigned to "Team Broadsword" of Carrier Air Wing 2.[2] The squadron operates the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and deploys on ships (aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers) assigned to the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group.

The squadron's Plain Language Address is: HELMARSTRIKERON SEVEN EIGHT

History

Command Namesake

The "Blue Hawks" name dates back to 1977 when the original "Blue Hawks" of Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) Five were established. HA(L)-5 continued the warrior legacy of Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) Three (HAL-3) who served courageously during the Vietnam War. The current "Blue Hawks" of HSM-78 continue to grow the legend and the proud heritage of those warriors who went before them.

Commanding Officers

HSM-78 Commanding Officer Listing
Number Name Dates
1 CDR William H. Bucey, III, USN[3] March 1, 2012 - March 28, 2013
2 CDR Richard H. Weitzel, USN[4] March 28, 2013 - June 23, 2014
3 CDR Gregory P. Sawtell, USN June 23, 2014 - July 4, 2015
4 CDR Matthew R. Barr, USN July 4, 2015 - October 13, 2016
5 CDR Timothy C. Boehme, USN October 13, 2016 - January 15, 2018
6 CDR Eddie J. Park, USN January 15, 2018 - May 15, 2019
7 CDR Eric D. Hutter, USN May 15, 2019 - September 3, 2020
8 CDR Jeremiah N. Ragadio, USN[5] September 3, 2020 - November 29, 2021
9 CDR Justin P. Eckhoff, USN November 29, 2021 - Present

Operational History: Deployments and Major Exercises

Squadron Awards

  • On May 16, 2019, the squadron was awarded the Admiral J.S. "Jimmy" Thach Award at the Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) National Symposium[22] for outstanding achievement and contribution to Naval Aviation. The squadron was also awarded the Battle Effectiveness (Battle "E") Award for achieving the highest standards of cost-wise and performance readiness, recognizing the unit's training and operational achievements while including a balance that incentivizes effectiveness and cost-wise readiness.
  • On October 2, 2020,[23] the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center announced that HSM-78 was awarded the Blue H Navy Surgeon General's Health Promotion and Wellness Award, at the Gold Star level, for excellence in workplace health promotion policies, activities, and outcomes.
  • On March 17, 2021, the Blue Hawks were awarded the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Aviation Safety Award for Fiscal Year 2020 for their "exceptional professionalism, commitment to excellence, solid leadership and teamwork, the high-velocity outcomes and in-depth risk management culture which resulted in safe and effective operations." The same day, the squadron was also awarded the Commander, US Pacific Fleet Retention Excellence Award for Fiscal Year 2020.
  • On March 30, 2022, the squadron was awarded the Battle "E" Award for calendar year 2021, her second award.

Major Personnel Achievements

  1. Official Command Website
  2. Official Command Facebook
  3. Official Command Instagram
  4. Official Command YouTube

References

  1. HSM-78 Prepares For Establishment
  2. HSC-4, HSM-78 Returning to Naval Air Station North Island | Coronado Times
  3. "All Hands Update: HSM-78 Ceremony". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  4. U.S. Pacific Fleet (2014-06-23), 140623-N-WO404-118, retrieved 2021-03-25
  5. "Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 78 Conducts Airborne Change of Command". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  6. "USS Ronald Reagan en route RIMPAC 2014". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  7. "Navy Helicopter Squadrons Return Home Before Destroyers". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  8. "USS Kidd joins USS Pinckney in search for missing jetliner". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  9. U. S. Third Fleet Public Affairs. "USS Wayne E. Meyer to Return from Western Pacific Deployment". www.cpf.navy.mil. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  10. "USS Cape St. George To Return To San Diego". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  11. "151105-N-DV340-080". allhands.navy.mil. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  12. Maintenance Mistakes May Have Caused 2017 Navy Helicopter Crash off Guam | Military.com
  13. Navy helicopter from San Diego-based squadron crashes near Guam | FOX 5 San Diego
  14. Crew members safely recovered by USS Dewey after Navy helicopter crash in Guam | cbs8.com
  15. "HSC-4, HSM-78 Returning to Naval Air Station North Island". Coronado Times. 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  16. Jennewein, Chris (2018-04-10). "USS Carl Vinson and Accompanying Destroyer Returning to San Diego on Thursday". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  17. "U.S. 4th Fleet Participates in SIFOREX 2018". U.S. Southern Command. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  18. "HSM 78 participates in RIMPAC". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  19. "U.S. Navy Seahawks train during Northern Strike 19". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  20. "U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Louden Smith talks about Northern Strike 19". www.22af.afrc.af.mil. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  21. Eckstein, Megan (2021-08-10). "Carl Vinson strike group using first deployment with F-35C, beefed-up air wing to hone advanced operations". Defense News. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  22. "Rotor Review Summer 2019 #145". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  23. "BLUE H - NAVY SURGEON GENERAL'S HEALTH PROMOTION AND WELLNESS AWARD" (PDF). Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center. Oct 2, 2020.
  24. "Naval Air Force Pacific Announces 2013 Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year". Coronado Times. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  25. 140210-N-VD165-011, 2014-02-10, retrieved 2021-03-25
  26. "Carrier Air Wing 1 Holds Airborne Change of Command". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
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