Executive Officer
Cmdr. James Powers

Cmdr. James Powers is a native of Arnold, Maryland. He is a 2003 graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
 
Powers was designated a Naval Aviator at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in August 2005. His flying assignments included Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 46 with deployments to the USAFRICOM, USCENTCOM, and USEUCOM areas of responsibility aboard USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64); Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 40 as an instructor pilot and CNAF SH-60B NATOPS evaluator; HSM-79 as both maintenance and operations officer during the squadron’s standup and integration into CVW 7 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72); and most recently as the executive officer of HSM-40.
 
His other tours included initial helicopter shore assignments detailer at the Bureau of Naval Personnel (PERS-43), and the Joint Staff, J-3, Joint Operations Directorate, Global Force Management where he was responsible for briefing global deployment orders to the Secretary of Defense, Under Secretaries of Defense, and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
 
Powers’ personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other campaign and unit awards. He has accumulated over 2,500 flight hours.