Executive Officer
Cmdr. Michael "DMAB" Ellwood
Cmdr. Michael “DMAB” Ellwood is a native of Hamburg, New York, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He was designated a naval aviator in 2012.
Upon completion of initial fleet replacement squadron training, he reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 in Norfolk, Virginia, where he deployed aboard USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) and USS Bataan (LHD 5). Ellwood then reported to the Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Atlantic (HSCWSL) in 2016, where he served as a Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI). During this tour, he was selected as the Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Region 4 Fleet Instructor Pilot of the Year 2018.
In December 2018, he reported to the “Slayers” of HSC-11 as the Training Officer and deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). In November 2020, he reported as a department head to the “Nightdippers” of HSC-5 and deployed with CVW-7 and USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77). He served as training officer, detachment officer in charge, operations officer, and maintenance officer.
In February 2023, he was assigned to the Naval War College, where he earned a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies and served as a Halsey Bravo Fellow for the Advanced Research Program.
Ellwood has accumulated over 2400 flight hours in the H-60 Seahawk helicopter. He is authorized to wear the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various unit, campaign, and service awards.