A native of Freeman, South Dakota, Capt. Helgerson enlisted in the Navy in January 1995 and was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1999. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and commissioning from the University of Nebraska in 2001, and in 2007, a Master of Science in Management from Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island.

His operational assignments include Aegis fire controlman aboard USS Lake Erie (CG 70); electronics material officer, communications officer, fire control officer, and navigator aboard USS Chosin (CG 65); weapons officer, fleeting up to combat systems officer aboard USS Hue City (CG 66); executive officer, fleeting up to commanding officer of USS Billings (LCS 15) Blue Crew, “The Kraken,” and commodore, Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron TWO, forward deployed to Diego Garcia. He has deployed multiple times to the Fifth Fleet Area of Operations in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
 
His shore assignments include Division Officer Instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School; Integrated Air and Missile Defense Analyst in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N00X Naval Warfare Integration Group and N81 Assessment Division, Sea Shield Branch; Theater Air & Missile Defense Officer in the Operations Directorate of U.S. Central Command; and the Director of Intermediate Training, Advanced Division Officer Course (ADOC) and International Surface Warfare Officers School (ISWOS) (N76), as well as an assessor and instructor in the Senior Officer Training Directorate (N75) at Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC), Newport, RI.
 
Capt. Helgerson’s awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy Commendation Medal (3), Navy Achievement Medal (4), as well as various unit and campaign awards.

 

Last Updated: 26 August 2025