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Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51 “Warlords”

Commander Matthew Foster

Executive Officer, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51

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VIRIN: 231206-N-VD554-3001
A native of Enid, Oklahoma, Commander Matthew S. Foster, graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science.  After graduating he worked as a Microbiologist in Tulsa, Oklahoma until joining the Navy and commissioning through Officer Candidate School in January 2008.  He was designated a Naval Aviator in January 2010 and reported to HSL-40 to qualify as an SH-60B pilot.

He began his fleet operational tours with the “Proud Warriors” of HSL-42 in Jacksonville, FL where he served as Detachment SEVEN Training Officer onboard USS JASON DUNHAM (DDG-109).  Following deployment on DDG-109, he was sent to HSM-40 to transition to the MH-60R. Upon completion of his training, he returned to HSL-42 and served as Quality Assurance Officer as the Squadron transitioned from the SH-60B to the MH-60R, assumed its new mantle of HSM-72 and joined CVW-7.

For his second sea duty assignment Commander Foster served as Squadron Training Officer and Weapons and Tactics Officer with the “Vipers” of HSM-48 in Mayport, FL, preparing detachments for deployment to the Fifth and Sixth Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AOR). While at HSM-48, he was peer-selected for the Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award (2018).
In 2019 he reported to his department head tour with the “Spartans” of HSM-70 where he served as Detachment OIC of Combat Element TWO onboard USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG-81) and then as Squadron Maintenance Officer. Throughout this time, he served onboard USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN-78) as CVW-8 embarked for multiple Independent Steaming Evolutions (ISE), preparing CVN-78 for fleet service.

Ashore, he attended Navy Rotary Wing Weapons School “SEAWOLF” WTI training at NAWDC in Fallon, NV and then served as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor, NATOPS Officer and Operations Officer at HSM Weapons School Atlantic (HSMWSL) in Mayport, FL. While at HSMWSL, he was selected as the 2015 Instructor Pilot of the Year and the 2016 Officer of the Year.

Following his department head tour CDR Foster served at OPNAV N80 as an Aviation Program Analyst in the N801 “Bullpen”. While at OPNAV N80 he managed the USN’s aviation procurement budget for the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) and President’s Budget (PB) submissions for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

Commander Foster completed Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I through the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College. He has accumulated over 2100 flight hours in Naval Aircraft. His awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), and various campaign and service awards.

Leaders

Commander Tommy McDonald

Commanding Officer, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51

Commander Matthew Foster

Executive Officer, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51

Command Master Chief Jenkins

Command Master Chief, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51


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