Captain Mario Mifsud, USN
Commanding Officer
Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Phoenix, AZ, CAPT Mifsud was commissioned through the NROTC program at the University of Arizona on 22 December 1988 and was designated a Naval Aviator on 25 May 1990. After completing H-3 Fleet Replacement Pilot training in February 1991 at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ONE, San Diego, CA, CAPT Mifsud joined Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SIXTEEN in Pensacola, FL where he was a member of the decommissioning crew.
CAPT Mifsud then reported to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA in June 1994. Earning an M.S. in Management with Distinction in September 1996, he received the Systems Management Faculty Award for Excellence in Management and qualified as a Certified Professional Logistician by the Society of Logistics Engineers. CAPT Mifsud then transferred to USS AUSTIN (LPD-4) home ported in Norfolk, VA where he served as the ship’s Air Officer and Fuels Officer and qualified as an Officer of the Deck (Underway).
In November 1998, he reported to Commander, Helicopter Tactical Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, VA as Administrative Officer. CAPT Mifsud then reported to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron TWO in July 1999. Serving as the squadron’s Maintenance Officer, Admin Officer and Safety Officer, he also deployed as Officer in Charge of Detachment TWO "Desert Ducks" in support of Commander, U.S FIFTH Fleet and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.
In November 2001, CAPT Mifsud joined Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE in San Diego, CA, for the community’s transition to the MH-60S Knighthawk. He served as the Fleet Replacement Squadron Executive Officer, Training Officer and as a MH-60S Flight Instructor. CAPT Mifsud then reported to Commander, U.S. THIRD Fleet, San Diego, CA in September 2003 and served as Executive Assistant to the Commander and Air Operations and Schedules Officer. Upon detaching, he attended the Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Combined Warfighting School in Norfolk, VA, graduating in November 2005.
CAPT Mifsud reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO ONE in San Diego, CA in June 2006. He deployed in October 2006 to Kuwait as the Commander, 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He took command of the Blackjacks in December 2007 and led the squadron to win their third consecutive Battle "E", Safety "S" and Retention Excellence awards in 2008. He reported to the Navy Staff, Air Directorate as the MH-60S Requirements Officer in April 2009. In June 2010 CAPT Mifsud took command of USS DENVER (LPD-9) homeported in Sasebo, Japan where he led the crew and Marines of the 31st MEU on three Western Pacific Patrols.
His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (six awards), the Army Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. He and his wife Marsha have three children; Domenick, Jake and Ava.
Lieutenant Colonel Steve Sims, USMC
Executive Officer
Lieutenant Colonel Sims is a native of New Albany, Mississippi and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1988. He was discharged as a Corporal in August 1990 to accept an NROTC scholarship. He was commissioned in 1993 through the NROTC Program at the University of Mississippi. Upon completion of The Basic School in Quantico, and Armor Officer Basic Course in Fort Knox, Kentucky in 1994, he was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He served as a Tank Platoon Commander in Company D and served as the Tank Platoon Commander for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC).
In June 1996, he was assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Denver, Colorado where he served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer. In 1999 he attended the Armor Officer Advanced Course and Calvary Leaders Course at Fort Knox. In February 2000, he was reassigned to 1st Tank Battalion where he served as Commanding Officer of Company A and Headquarters and Service Company.
In April 2002, he was reassigned as the Inspector and Instructor, Anti-Tank Training Company, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. In June 2004, he deployed as an individual augment with the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, as a ground Watch Officer until January 2005. In September 2005, he was assigned to Joint Task Force-Katrina and served as the Future Operations Officer for the Hurricane Relief effort along the Gulf Coast.
In August 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Sims was assigned to 2d Tank Battalion where he deployed on a Military Transition Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In December 2007, he was assigned as the Executive officer, 2d Tank Battalion until May 2008. In June he was reassigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters and placed in charge of a Brigade Military Transition Team, and from October 2008 to July 2009, served as the Operations Officer for Regional Border Team South.
Lieutenant Colonel Sims' personal awards are the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Gold Star), and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with Gold Star).