Chairman’s Brief

Be Part of the Team and Build the Team

By RADM D.H. “Dano” Fillion, USN (Ret.)

Each and every one of you who is part of aviation, and rotary wing aviation in particular, is a member of the “Team” that is rotary wing warfighting aviation. You contribute to the team by virtue of all you do as maintainers, aircrew, squadron support personnel, and aviators. Your families are also part of that team, and their support of your efforts is vital to your operational effectiveness. All of this is goodness for the Navy and the nation. NHA, I offer, is the mechanism by which you can not only be a part of that team, but also build it. NHA is your organization; it’s an organization that is working diligently to be with all members from the time you join until the time you decide to longer be a member. We are comprised of active duty, reservists, corporate America, and all of our retirees.

Attending Symposium is an absolutely great thing to do. But just attending and not being a member, I offer, constitutes being on the team, but not building the team. Think about it..you sort of give a shiitake mushroom once a year, and then not so much the rest of the year! I get it, I truly do. But I want to see if each and every one of you will consider coming back to the “NHA Squadron” and seeing whether you like it better now than you did previously. The leadership orchestrating this year’s Symposium is going full bore to deliver on the input from members across the Navy’s AOR, i.e., the world! I am personally reaching out to every rotary wing Flag Officer and SES: we would love to see you at NHA this year! We’re crafting NHA agenda items in response to direct feedback and input from JOs and Aircrews from both coasts. It will be a very enjoyable and memorable event coming off the heels of last year’s superb Symposium. Our corporate sponsors have always been part of the NHA Team, and have helped build the team every year.

If you accept the challenge, join the organization, and are not satisfied with your NHA, come see me and I will personally reimburse you your membership fees. Then, you are going to help me pay for my kids’ college education!

We are working toward a goal of 3,000 members; we are currently at 2,682 members.

NHA is absolutely your organization. Give membership a chance, studs!

“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.” Vince Lombardi Hall of Fame NFL Coach

ALWAYS BE PART OF THE TEAM, AND ALWAYS BUILD THE TEAM WHEN ABLE!

As always, I am…

V/r and CNJI (Committed not Just Involved),

Dano Fillion

RADM Daniel “Dano” Fillion, Director, Warfare Integration,N9I Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, left, participates in a safety brief for his final helicopter flight with CAPT Ross Drenning, right, Commanding Officer of the Airwolves of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 40.