CAPT Eli C. Owre

Executive Officer, USS Boxer (LHD 4)

14 November 2024

Captain Owre is a native of Eugene, Oregon. He earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned at the United States Naval Academy in 2002. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2011. After flight training, he was designated as a Naval Aviator and earned his Wings of Gold in June 2004. Throughout his aviation career, he qualified in the SH-60B Seahawk, MH-60R Seahawk, and MQ-8B Firescout, accumulating over 2,900 hours flying tactical military aircraft.

Previous sea duty assignments include Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Squadron (HSL) 44, where he deployed onboard USS HUE CITY (CG 66) and USS HALYBURTON (FFG 40) as the Detachment Maintenance Officer and Squadron Quality Assurance Officer. He served as the Plankowner of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 as the Detachment Officer-in-Charge and Maintenance Officer, embarked USS FREEDOM (LCS 1) and USS FORT WORTH (LCS 3) to complete the Littoral Combat Ship Surface Warfare Mission Package developmental and operational testing, as well as the first-ever embarkation of MH-60R and MQ-8B onboard LCS class ships.

Ashore and staff assignments include Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41, where he served as the Operations Officer, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) THREE as the Flag Aide to the Commander, Joint Chiefs of Staff (J-7 Joint Exercise Division) as the Special Technical Operations (STO) Planner, and Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific as the Deputy Force Operations Officer.

As Commanding Officer of the Wolfpack of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75, the squadron completed two Western Pacific deployments while embarked onboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) from January 2020 to July 2020 and November 2020 to May 2021. Additionally, while in command of HSM 75, he received the Naval Helicopter Association Rear Admiral Tomaszeski Squadron Commanding Officer Leadership Award and the Navy-Marine Corps Association HSM Wing Pacific Commanding Officer Leadership Award. As the Commanding Officer of the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 41) Seahawks, he earned the 2023 CDR Theodore Ellyson Award for production excellence amongst all Fleet Replacement Squadrons.

CAPT Owre reported onboard USS BOXER (LHD 4) as Executive Officer in October 2024.

His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and various unit, campaign, and service awards