A native of Coronado, California, Commander Pontes graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy of Industrial Societies. GO BEARS! CDR Pontes was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program and reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for flight training in August 2008. He earned his Naval Aviator Wings in August 2010. In September 2010, CDR Pontes reported to the HS-10 “Warhawks” for initial fleet training as an SH-60F/HH-60H pilot.  

CDR Pontes began his operational flying in May 2011 with the World Famous “Nightdippers” of HS-5.  While a “Nightdipper”, he made two deployments aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf, participating in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During this tour he transitioned from the legacy SH-60F/HH-60H to the MH-60S.

CDR Pontes reported to the HSC-3 “Merlins” in May 2014 for duty as an instructor pilot.  During this tour he served as a NATOPS program manager for both the MH-60S and SH-60F/HH-60H airframes. Additionally, he earned his Master’s Degree of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in 2017. GO BLUE! 

Following his first shore tour, CDR Pontes was assigned to CVW-9 staff in May 2017 as the Helicopter Sea Combat representative and deployed aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) to the FIFTH fleet area of responsibility in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
 
CDR Pontes transferred in 2019 and served as a Department Head with the “Chargers” of HSC-14. While with the “Chargers”, he completed a full set of workups aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72), serving as Administration Officer, Safety Officer, and Maintenance Officer. Additionally, he provided aerial firefighting support to Naval Weapons Station China Lake in August 2020 protecting critical test infrastructure from wildfire.
 
Following his department head tour, CDR Pontes was assigned as an action officer at United States Central Command in January 2022.  As a member of the Global Force Management division, he was responsible for the deployment of more than 11,000 personnel to USCENTCOM’s area of responsibility including the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Additionally, he completed JPME I through the Naval War College’s remote program while ashore. He was selected for squadron command in March 2022 and is scheduled to report to HSC-4 as Executive Officer in September 2023.

CDR Pontes has accumulated over 2,400 flight hours across five different airframes. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign commendations. Gene and his wife, Katie, have two smart and playful children, Olsen and Gwen.
 

Last Updated: 5 September 2024