Commander Dana R. Gordon Commander Dana R. Gordon relieved Commander Richard A. Skiff Jr. as Command Officer of the helicopter Anti- Submarine Squadron Light 42. He is the first African American to hold this position.

Gordon accepted the position with the reading of orders and remarks. He thanked the "village:" his parents, sisters, aunts, grandparents, wife, in- laws, cousins, children, friends, and co- workers for helping make everything possible.

Gordon is a 1984 graduate of Columbia High School and a 1989 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology where he earned a BS in electrical engineering. He was commissioned Lt. JG through the NROTC program in January 1990 and preceded to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fla. He was designated a Naval aviator in October 1991. Gordon later completed his MBA degree from Embry- Riddle University. He has served in many positions and received awards throughout his 18 years in the Navy.

Gordon and his crew, while in a storm, rescued five men from a sinking boat in the Caribbean. They received city resolutions from Jacksonville and Palatka, Fla. His second Sikorsky Rescue Pin for participation was for the heroic rescue of six civilians and one air crewman atop a burning smokestack.

Gordon's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (two individual awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. He recently received the Florida NAACP Armed Forces and Veterans Meritorious Service Award in Orlando, Fla.

Gordon is married to the former Rolanda A. Ogletree of Dayton, Ohio. The couple has two daughters, Danielle (nine) and Reese (four). Gordon's parents are Bobby and Dolores Gordon of Columbia.

Gordon and his helicopter crew can be seen at the Shaw Air Force AFB Air Show in Sumter September 5 and 6, 2008.