Leadership

A native of Orange Park, Florida, Captain Miller enlisted in the Navy in April of 1992.  After completing Nuclear Field Machinist’s Mate “A” school in Orlando, Florida and Basic Enlisted Sub School in Groton, Connecticut, he reported to the USS West Virginia SSBN 736 in Kings Bay, Georgia.  While attached to the USS West Virginia, CAPT Miller completed 8 deterrent patrols.  CAPT Miller was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1998 and attended the University of North Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Management leading to his commissioning in August of 2000.  He later graduated from the U.S. Naval War College, where he earned a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Previously, he commanded the “Honey Badgers” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School, Pacific assigned to CHSMWP at Naval Station North Island, San Diego, CA. As the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer Dec ’17-Jun ’20, the Honey Badgers executed 14 Helicopter Advanced Readiness Programs (HARP) in support of 10 HSMWP operational squadrons. 

CAPT Miller’s flying tours include his first operational assignment as an SH-60B Seahawk pilot with the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 in numerous support operations on ships deployed in the Arabian Gulf, the Caribbean and South America. He then served as a fleet replacement squadron instructor and squadron NATOPS instructor at HSL-40. After transitioning to the MH-60R, “High Life” was a plank owner and the squadron NATOPS instructor during the stand up and certification of HSM-70, the Spartans. He completed his department head tour with the “Swamp Foxes” of HSM-74, serving as the Maintenance Officer and was selected as Squadron Officer of the Year for 2013. 

CAPT Miller has completed assignments at United States Central Command as a Joint Planner, at Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet, Bahrain as Current Operations Director, at Commander Tactical Air Control Group One as the Chief Staff Officer and at Carrier Strike Group Fifteen as the Afloat Exercise Director. 

In his career, CAPT Miller has accumulated more than 2,800 mishap-free flight hours. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal in addition to other unit and personal awards.

A native of Franktown, Colorado, CDR Matthew Woods enlisted in the Navy in September of 1993. After completing the Naval Aircrew and Aviation Rescue Swimmer training pipeline he served as an Aviation Warfare Systems Operator at HSL-46. He deployed to the Arabian Gulf on USS O’Bannon (DD-987) for Operation Southern Watch, the Mediterranean on USS Taylor (FFG-50) for NATO exercises and the Caribbean on USS Nicholas (FFG-47) for counter-narcotics operations. During his following tour as an AW FRS Instructor at HSL-40 he was selected for the Seaman to Admiral officer program and received his commission in April of 2005. CDR Woods earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville University and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus on Defense Acquisitions from the Naval Postgraduate School. 

A career naval aviator, his operational assignments include service with the Proud Warriors of HSL-42 where he deployed to 5th Fleet for counter piracy operations on USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) and USS Farragut (DDG-99.) He deployed to the CENTCOM AOR with AFSOC 34th and 319th Special Operations Squadrons. Assigned as a “Super JO” to the Grandmasters of HSM-46 he deployed on the USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) to the 6th Fleet AOR. Completing his Department Head tour with the Vipers of HSM-48 he again deployed to 6th Fleet on USS Churchill (DDG-81.) His shore assignments include instructor pilot with the Airwolves of HSM-40 and Officer in Charge of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces MH-60R Foreign Military Sales program training detachment. While serving in the N3, N5 and N8 directorates for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / 5th Fleet he conducted shipboard helicopter flight training for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and qualified as a Command Missile Distribution Order officer.

He is currently assigned as the Executive Officer for NROTC Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Florida. 

CDR Woods’s decorations include (Two) Meritorious Service Medals, (Thirteen) Air Medals, (One) Joint Commendation Medal, (Three) Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medals, (Five) Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various other unit and campaign awards. He has accumulated over 5,000 flight hours, 180 combat missions, and over 900 small deck shipboard landings. 

Gunnery Sergeant Dino enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 2012, and completed recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, South Carolina followed by Marine Combat Training at Camp Gieger. Upon graduation, he reported to the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training School (CNATT) aboard Camp Pendleton where he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal and earned the MOS 6114, AH/UH Helicopter Mechanic.

Lance Corporal Dino reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 467.  In 2014, Lance Corporal Dino deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom and to help with the shutdown efforts where he was promoted to Corporal.  
 In 2015, he was promoted to Sergeant and deployed with the 22d MEU on the USS Wasp in support of Operation Oddessy Lightning (OOL).

Upon return in early 2017, Sergeant Dino received orders to HMLA 369.

While at HMLA-369, Sergeant Dino earned his Aircrew Wings and received an additional MOS of 6199. In 2018, Sergeant Dino deployed on the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) in Okinawa, Japan where he supported both, the 31st MEU and UDP.

Upon returning from Okinawa, Japan, Sergeant Dino was promoted to Staff Sergeant and received orders to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego for Drill Instructor School.

In April 2019, Staff Sergeant Dino attended Drill Instructor School on Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon graduation, Staff Sergeant Dino was assigned to Mike Company, 3D Recruit Training Battalion where he served as a Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor. After seven successful cycles, Staff Sergeant Dino was then moved to Receiving Company, Support Battalion, where he finished his time in San Diego as the Company Gunnery Sergeant and acting First Sergeant for Receiving Company.

In June 2022, Staff Sergeant Dino reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269. While there, he was the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Flightline Division and acted as the Squadron Gunnery Sergeant. In December 2022, he coordinated the Deactivation ceremony of HMLA 269 and received orders to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167.

Staff Sergeant Dino checked into Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 in January of 2023. Upon reporting to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, he was placed in the Quality Assurance division to be the subject matter expert for the Flightline and Airframes Divisions as a Quality Assurance Representative. 

In May of 2024, Staff Sergeant Dino was Promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. In April of 2024, Gunnery Sergeant Dino deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the lead Quality Assurance Representative for the H-1 detachment.

In January 2025, Gunnery Sergeant Dino returned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167.

In March 2025, Gunnery Sergeant Dino Received orders to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University NROTC where he currently serves as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor and the Senior Enlisted Advisor.

Gunnery Sergeant Dino's personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars in lieu of fifth award.