Commanding Officer

Captain James D. Bahr

CAPT James “Cableguy” Bahr enlisted in the Navy in 1991 as a Nuclear Field Machinist’s Mate. He completed both Recruit Training and Machinist’s Mate A-School at Naval Training Center Orlando, Florida in 1992. While in training he applied for and received a nomination to the US Naval Academy where he would later graduate in May 1996 with a BS in Physics. CAPT Bahr was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1998 and was ordered to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FIFTEEN (HM-15) in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In February 2002, CAPT Bahr transferred to Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapon Systems Training School (AWSTS) in Norfolk, Virginia as a Fleet Replacement instructor pilot in the MH-53E helicopter. CAPT Bahr left AWSTS in 2004 to implement the newly developed MH-53E Air Combat Training Program at Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN (HM-14).

While at HM-14, he was assigned as the Squadron’s Weapons and Tactics Instructor, NATOPS Officer, Pilot and Aircrew Training Officer, and Functional Check Flight Program Manager.

In the summer of 2006 CAPT Bahr departed HM-14 for the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned his Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Upon graduation, CAPT Bahr returned to HM-15 in Corpus Christi, TX for his Aviation Department Head tour where he served as Training Department Head, Detachment Officer-in-Charge (Bahrain), Mine Countermeasures Systems Maintenance Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer until November 2009.

CAPT Bahr reported to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), NAS Patuxent River, Maryland in December 2009 as Assistant Program Manager, Systems Engineering for the Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office (PMA-261). Upon detaching NAVAIR in Sep 2011, CAPT Bahr reported to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Bahrain, as the Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic Liaison Officer to FIFTH Fleet.

CAPT Bahr reported to HM-14 as Executive Officer in May 2012 before being operationally reassigned to HM-15 in August 2012 where he immediately deployed to Bahrain filling a critical community leadership gap as HM-15 Executive Officer. He held command of HM-15 from May 2013 to Aug 2014. Upon completing his command tour, CAPT Bahr was assigned to Chief of Naval Operations Staff, OPNAV N98 Director, Air Warfare as the MH-53E Requirements Officer from September 2014 to May 2016. He completed a tour as the Commanding Officer of the MH-53E Fleet Replacement Squadron – HM-12 in Norfolk, Virginia from June 2016 to Oct 2017. CAPT Bahr recently completed his major command tour as Commander, Navy Recruiting Region East from July 2018 to May 2020.