Cmdr. Michael E. Pearne, a native of Riverside, California, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1993 as an aviation structural mechanic egress and safety equipment airman and attended recruit training in Great Lakes, Illinois. He was selected for the Limited Duty Officer (program, commissioned an ensign in 2007, and earned his Bachelor of Aeronautical Science (Engineering) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2009. 

His Fleet operational assignments include Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 8; HSC-28; Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40, Special Projects Patrol Squadron (VPU) 2, USS Wasp (LHD-1), and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).  During these tours, he served as a Naval aircrewman search and rescue swimmer, detachment quality assurance supervisor, detachment leading petty officer, detachment chief, detachment maintenance officer, maintenance material control officer, department head afloat, and gun boss head of department afloat.

Ashore, he served with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 110; Fleet Replacement Aircrew training at HC-3, Naval Air Station Lemoore search and rescue, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment (AIMD) Atsugi, Japan, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic, and Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 12. During these tours, he served as plane captain, rescue crew chief, aircraft division officer, maintenance material control officer, assistant maintenance officer, readiness officer, maintenance program assist team lead, and squadron maintenance officer.

Pearne reported for duty as executive officer of Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2025.
 
He has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours in the CH-46/UH-1/MH-60S. 
 
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards) and various unit, service and campaign awards. 
 
He was awarded Senior Sailor of the Year 2005 and 2006; Helicopter Tactical Wing Atlantic Sea Sailor of the Year 2006, and ACCLOGWING Maintenance Officer of the Year in 2013.
 
 

Last Updated: 5 May 2025