HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT SQUADRON TWENTY FIVE - OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE OF THE ISLAND KNIGHTS

William G. Eastham
Commander, U.S. Navy
Executive Officer, HSC-25

CDR Will “Easy” Eastham received his commission from The University of Virginia ROTC in 2000 and is a native of Amissville, Virginia. Following temporary assignment as Assistant Ship’s Officer, Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, he completed Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced flight training in Pensacola, FL where he earned his “wings of gold” in March of 2002. He then reported to the “Merlins” of Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), HSC-3 in San Diego, CA for fleet aircraft training in the MH-60S.

In 2002, he joined the HC-6 “Chargers” of Norfolk, Virginia. Deploying onboard USNS SIRIUS (T-AFS-8) and USS NASHVILLE (LPD-13) in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM, CDR Eastham earned his first Naval and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for a meritorious, life-saving rescue of a distressed civilian mariner in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. While ashore, CDR Eastham served as Squadron Communications, Legal, and NATOPS Officer.

CDR Eastham returned to HSC-3, San Diego, CA, in 2006 as a FRS Instructor Pilot where he served as the CNO SAR Evaluator, CNO SAR Model Manager, and Commander Naval Air Forces MH-60S NATOPS/CRM Program Manager and Evaluator. During his tour, he flew over 850 mishap-free instructional hours and earned a MS of Global Leadership from the University of San Diego.

In January of 2009, CDR Eastham reported to USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) as Catapult and Arresting Gear Officer where he qualified as Flight Deck Shooter and Assistant Air Officer while serving as Bow Catapult Branch Head, V-2 Division Officer, and CVN-76 “TOPCAT”. He deployed with the RONALD REAGAN STRIKE GROUP to the 5th FLEET AOR in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and participated in the 2010 RIMPAC Exercise.

CDR Eastham reported to the “Wildcards” of HSC-23, San Diego, CA, in 2011 where he served as Officer-in-Charge of Expeditionary Combat Element Detachment ONE embarked onboard USS MAKIN ISLAND (LHD-8) with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon return from the ship’s maiden overseas deployment to 5th and 7th FLEETs, CDR Eastham completed his tour as the Squadron Operations Officer.

In 2013, CDR Eastham reported to the United States Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction in Washington, D.C. as DOD Coordinator and Exercise Planner. He is a 2014 graduate of Joint Forces Staff College and has earned designation as a fully Joint Qualified Officer (JQO). He reported in July 2016 to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO FIVE (HSC-25) as the Executive Officer.

CDR Eastham has accumulated over 2,400 flight hours, primarily in the MH-60S Knighthawk. His personal awards include the Meritorious Defense Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (1), and various other personal, unit, and campaign awards .