HM-15 - History

History

The Blackhawks were established on 2 January 1987, as the first of two similar active duty squadrons at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. On 1 October 1987, the squadron's permanent duty station changed to Naval Air Station Alameda, California (just outside of Oakland).

In October 1989 the squadron was called upon to provide support for disaster relief effort after an earthquake devastated Loma Prieta, California. To assist they lifted full size construction backhoe tractors and assisted in other air-lift operations. The unit was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for their efforts.

The squadron was involved in its first major conflict in 1991 when it deployed a three aircraft, 100 man detachment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The squadron remained in theater until April 1992 after transporting over 3.2 million pounds of cargo and more than 4,000 personnel. They have also been involved in Operation Enduring Freedom most notably through deployments to Bahrain.

HM-15 and the reserve squadron HM-19 were the first squadrons in the U.S. Navy to combine and fully integrate active and reserve squadrons. HM-19 was soon afterwards decommissioned, with the integrated squadron maintaining the HM-15 designation, mascot, and insignia. The integration was completed on 5 November 1994.

Due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), with the slated closure of Naval Air Station Alameda, California, on 30 June 1996, the permanent duty station of the squadron was officially moved to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2010 it was moved due to BRAC once again, and now calls Norfolk, Virginia home.

At times, HM-15 has had more than 750 personnel. Her largest work center, the "Line Division" boasts at times nearly a hundred personnel, supporting rotating "round the clock" operations. Her second largest work center, the "Airframes and Hydraulics Shop" has almost 60 personnel. She also has one of the "World's Greatest" Administrative Departments. Broken down into Admin and Personnel, this handful of about 10 Sailors take care of all 750 HM-15 members pay, special requests, leave, evaluations, fitreps, and awards.

The squadron has deployed to locations like Bahrain, South Korea, the Middle East via the Persian Gulf, Indonesia, and in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. HM-15 also took part in Joint Task Force Katrina and was part of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts while working with the USS Bataan (LHD-5). She has operated from the flight decks of the USS Tripoli (LPH-10), the USS Juneau (LPD-10), the USS Denver (LPD-9), the USS Inchon (LPH-12), the USS Saipan (LHA-2), the USS Bataan (LHD-5), and the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3).

In 1995, HM-15 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Again affected by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005, the squadron moved from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas back to where they first started at NAVSTA Norfolk.

The current Commanding Officer is Commander Richard B. Thomas who is slated to be relieved by the Executive Officer, Commander Sara "Nitro" Santoski in May 2012. The squadron's Command Master Chief is Master Chief Petty Officer Bobby Anderson.

After a helicopter crash that killed two sailors in Bahrain in July 2012, squadron commander Commander Sara Santoski and Master Chief Petty Officer Bobby T. Anderson were relieved of duty and reassigned.