Executive Officer
Cmdr. Arlen M. Connolly
Cmdr. Arlen Connolly is a native of Woodbridge, Virginia. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. After commissioning, he reported to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training and was designated a naval aviator in September 2010.
After receiving initial MH-60R training with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41 at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, California, he reported to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77. He deployed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and USS Sterett (DDG 104) in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 counter-piracy operations as a part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2. In January of 2013, HSM-77 executed a homeport shift to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, to join Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and deployed to the Western Pacific onboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Antietam (CG 54) in support of forward deployed naval forces as well as executing humanitarian aid/disaster relief missions in support of Operation Damayan. His duties included assistant schedules officer, AV/ARM division officer, detachment operations officer, and squadron quality assurance officer.
In September 2014, Connolly joined HSM-41 as a fleet replacement squadron (FRS) instructor pilot. While there, he graduated from the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI) course and served as aviation tactics officer phase lead and squadron weapons and tactics instructor responsible for the tactical training and qualification all incoming FRS instructors and students culminated in his selection as the command’s 2016 Tactician of the Year.
In July 2017, Connolly reported to CVW-2 as the HSM operations officer on staff and completed two deployments to 7th Fleet as well as leading all helicopter operations for 25 partner nations as the Commander, 3rd Fleet helicopter element coordinator during RIMPAC 2018. During this tour, he was also awarded the 2017 Naval Helicopter Association Volunteer of the Year award.
In October 2018, he joined the “Griffins” of HSM-79 in San Diego, California, for his department head tour. He completed an around-the-world deployment as part of CVW-7 onboard CVN 72 in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinal as the training and operations officer. He was awarded the Commander John “Moose” Donovan Officer Leadership Award as the 2020 Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Pacific Officer of the Year.
In October 2020, Connolly was assigned to the aviation distribution division (PERS-43) at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee, as the HSM and Commander, Naval Air Forces placement officer. Following his tour at PERS-43, he reported to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies.
Connolly has accumulated over 2,200 flight hours in the MH-60R and various other aircraft. His personal decorations include the Air Medal (Individual Award), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (6 Awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 Awards), and various campaign/unit awards.