Executive Officer
Capt. Nicholas C. DeLeo
Captain DeLeo is a native of Silver Spring, MD. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Systems Engineering in 1999. He received his commission through the University’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Upon graduation, he was selected into the Immediate Graduate Education Program (IGEP), where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Systems Technology from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
After earning his “Wings of Gold” in September 2001, Captain DeLeo reported to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light FOUR EIGHT (HSL-48) in Mayport, FL for his first Squadron tour flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, deploying aboard USS HAYLER (DD-997), USS DOYLE (FFG-39), and USS MCINERNEY (FFG-8). During this tour, he was awarded HSL-48’s 2004 Pilot of the Year.
In August 2005, Captain DeLeo assumed duties as a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) Instructor Pilot at HSL-40 serving as the Assistant Training Officer as well as flying Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) missions during Hurricane Rita. During this tour, he completed Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I training and was awarded HSL-40’s 2007 Officer of the Year. He went on to a disassociated sea tour aboard USS BATAAN (LHD 5) as the Assistant Air Officer (“Mini Boss”). As Mini Boss, he worked closely with USS BATAAN’s Air Combat Element (ACE), consisting of the first full complement of 10 MV-22 Ospreys to deploy on an amphibious ship. He was directly involved with USS BATAAN’s HADR response to the Haitian earthquake in January 2010. He qualified as Officer of the Deck (Underway), Tactical Action Officer (TAO), and was awarded the Naval Helicopter Association’s (NHA) 2009 Shipboard Pilot of the Year.
In July 2010, Captain DeLeo was ordered to the Proud Warriors of HSL-42 as a Department Head. Throughout his tour, he served as the Squadron’s Maintenance Officer, Operations Officer, and Air Boss aboard USS NICHOLAS (FFG-47), conducting Combating Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) operations in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. During this tour he was awarded the peer-selected 2012 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award.
In April 2013, Captain DeLeo reported to United States Strategic Command in Omaha, NE, serving in the Capabilities and Resource Integration Directorate (J8). Additionally, he served as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Commander, directly assisting the Four-Star on various overseas missions in support of the nation’s role in Nuclear Deterrence and Assurance.
Captain DeLeo assumed the role of Executive Officer of HSM-74 in July 2016, deploying with CVW-3 on USS EISENHOWER (CVN-69). He assumed the role of Commanding Officer on 21 September 2017. During this tour, the Swamp was awarded the 2017 Battle Efficiency Award and the Arnold J Isbell Trophy. The Swamp also participated in Theater ASW operations and Hurricanes Irma and Michael relief efforts, and was directly involved with nine separate underway periods. He was awarded the peer-selected 2018 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award, and began the aviation nuclear training pipeline in January 2019.
Captain DeLeo has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), as well as various service ribbons.