CAPT Daniel S. Bense is a native of Huntington, N.Y.  He was commissioned in 1999 and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Tech and Master’s Degrees in National Security Strategy from the U.S. Naval War College and American Military University.

He commanded the “Screwtops” of VAW-123, an E-2C Hawkeye 2000 squadron.  Other sea tours include: VAW-115 as a junior officer, VAW-123 as Squadron Training Officer and VAW-116 as a Department Head. He has deployed and served aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW DAWN.  He was recognized by the Association of Naval Aviation as the 2012 RADM A.C. Read Navigator of the Year.

Ashore, he qualified as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center where he served as both an instructor at the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School and as an Air Wing Evaluator.  In 2008, he served as the Assistant Information Operations Officer and Fleet Special Access Programs Security Officer at U.S. Second Fleet.  In November of 2012, he reported to U.S. Northern Command, Joint Task Force Civil Support as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General and Director of the Commander’s Action Group where he assisted in developing commander’s guidance for Title X forces responsible for INCONUS response to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack.  In 2016 he reported as the Officer in Charge of Airborne Command, Control & Logistics Wing Detachment, Norfolk, where he directed the daily maintenance, materiel and facilities support functions for six E-2C/D Hawkeye squadrons and one C-2A Greyhound squadron.  From August 2020-November 2021, he served as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

He most recently completed assignment as Chief of Staff, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic.

CAPT Bense has accumulated over 2800 flight hours in the E-2C Hawkeye and other naval aircraft, including over 300 hours in combat.  His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (2 awards) Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Strike/Flight Air Medal (3 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards/1 Combat “V”), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various unit, campaign and service awards.  He is married to Tanya Bense and they have two children, Sophie (20) and Jacob (13).