Commanding Officer
Cmdr. David M. Bigay

Cmdr. Bigay is a native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. 
 
He served in a variety of training and operational squadrons including Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 46, HSL-40, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 84, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 72, and HSM-48 where he served as executive and commanding officer from April 2019 until August 2021.

He has deployed aboard USS Steven W. Groves (FFG 29), USS Simpson (FFG 56), ashore at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete, and in various forward locations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility (USCENTCOM AOR) in support of special operations forces (SOF).  He has served as detachment operations officer, detachment maintenance officer, squadron assistant operations officer, squadron quality assurance officer, squadron training officer, squadron maintenance officer, and detachment officer in charge.

Assignments to shore and staff billets include, joint SOF planner at U.S. Special Operations Command – Central (SOCCENT), and Maritime ISR Weapons School (MISRWS) department head at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC). 
 
Bigay reported to HSM-40, Mayport, Florida, as prospective commanding officer in July of 2023.
 
His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Air Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Sikorsky Rescue “S” and various unit, campaign, and service awards.
 
Bigay is a graduate of the SEAHAWK Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI), and Maritime ISR Weapons and Tactics Instructor (MISR WTI) programs.  He has accumulated over 3,000 mishap-free flight hours in eight different variants of naval aircraft.