Commanding Officer
Capt. Teague R. Laguens
Capt. Teague R. Laguens is a native of Manhattan, Kansas, lived throughout the U.S. as an Army child, spent several years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and calls Kentucky home. Laguens earned a B.S. in Ocean Engineering degree and his commission from the United States Naval Academy in 1997. In 1999, he earned his “Wings of Gold” and was designated a naval aviator.
At sea, Laguens deployed as a first tour pilot flying the SH-60B Seahawk supporting counter-narcotics operations, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, and Operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom while assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 from August 2000 to January 2004. Additionally, he served as the training officer, officer-in-charge, and maintenance officer flying the MH-60R Seahawk supporting Operation Enduring Freedom during his department head tour at Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 from October 2007 to May 2010. While deployed, he earned his Officer-of-the-Deck (OOD) underway qualification.
Laguens executed his operational command tour at HSM-74 in Jacksonville, Florida from Dec 2013 to July 2016. During his tour, the squadron earned the Battle “E” twice, the Commander, Fleet Forces Command Retention Excellence Award for three consecutive years, and the Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Safety “S” twice. While in command, his squadron introduced the Advanced Precision Weapons Kill System to the east coast Fleet and deployed the MH-60R on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) for the first time.
Ashore, Laguens completed a “split tour” as a MH-60R operational test director (Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1) and a MH-60R instructor pilot (HSM-41) from February 2004 to January 2007. Following his production tours, he reported for duty as flag aide to Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF). Additionally, he served as a 55th presidential inauguration military assistant and also completed Air Force Air Command and Staff College JPME Phase 1. Laguens also commanded the Ellyson Award for Production Excellence winning “Airwolves” of HSM-40, the East Coast MH-60R fleet replacement squadron, from September 2018 to March 2020.
His major staff assignments include service as the strategic communication plans chief at North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command from May 2010 to February 2013 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Laguens also served as the deputy director for aviation manpower distribution and head air combat placement officer (PERS-43) at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. In 2020, Laguens reported to Commander HSM Wing Atlantic as the deputy commodore. He assumed command on 9 December 2021 as the Wing’s 22nd commodore.
Laguens is authorized to wear the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal Strike/Flight, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards) and multiple joint, unit, and campaign awards. He has accumulated nearly 3,000 flight hours and 1,000 small deck and aircraft carrier landings.