THORNWOOD NATIVE SERVES WITH U.S. NAVY HELICOPTER SQUADRON

Lt. Logan Dahle, a native of Thornwood, New York, serves with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 40, based out of Mayport, Florida. The squadron”™s primary mission is to conduct sea control operations in open-ocean and coastal environments. This includes hunting for submarines, searching for surface targets over the horizon and conducting search and rescue operations.

Dahle, a 2008 graduate of West Lake High School, joined the Navy 11 years ago. Additionally, Dahle graduated from University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

“I joined the Navy to see the world and get out of my hometown,” said Dahle. “I initially enlisted in 2012 and applied for and got selected to Officer Candidate School in 2015.”

Today, Dahle relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Thornwood to succeed in the military. 

“Growing up I participated in track, wrestling and football, and with that experience, I learned how to be a team player,” said Dahle. “The lessons I learned from team sports directly transferred over to the Navy. One of those lessons is that it’s not about the individual’s success but the team as a whole.”

These lessons have helped Dahle while serving in the Navy.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“Our mission remains timeless ”“”“ to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval pperations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”

Serving in the Navy means Dahle is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America”™s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The U.S. Navy supports national defense and provides a deterrence from our adversaries and are deployable at a moment’s notice,” said Dahle.