Commanding Officer
Cmdr. Nicklaus Smith

Cmdr. Nicklaus Smith, a native of Chicago Heights, Illinois, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He completed flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and was winged as​ a “Naval Aviator” in July 2005.
 
His first operational tour was with the Vanguard of HM-14, where he deployed on USS Wasp (LHD-1) in support of JTF Lebanon, USS Peleliu (LHA-5) in support of Pacific Partnership, USS Comstock (LSD-45) in support of RIMPAC 2008, and finally served as AOIC of HM-14 DET Korea.
 
Smith served as FRS instructor at AWSTS for the MH-53E, and after graduating from MAWTS WTI ground course, returned to HM-14 as SWTI in 2012. Smith reported in 2014 as a department head with the Blackhawks of HM-15, serving as Admin Officer, Training Officer, DET TWO OIC in Bahrain, and finally as aircraft maintenance officer. He reported to the Pentagon in November 2016 and served for three years as the AMCM requirements officer on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N95.