CW5 Dennis Eelkema, Command Chief Warrant Officer, 110th Aviation Brigade
Chief Warrant Officer Five Dennis Eelkema is a native of Oak Harbor, Washington and entered into military service in 2002. He attended U.S. Army Basic Training at Fort Sill, OK and Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Alabama followed by Warrant Officer Flight Training. He earned his wings in October of 2002 and completed UH-60A FSXXII October 2003.
CW5 Eelkema completed UH-60A/L Instructor Pilot Course in September 2009 and has served in numerous standardization positions within U.S. Army Aviation as a Company, Battalion, and Brigade SP/IE. He transitioned airframes in 2016 to the MD500/OH-6 and served as the Government Flight representative (GFR) to the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
His combat deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008. He has an additional overseas assignment to Saudi Arabia in 2016 and 2017.
CW5 Eelkema’s assignments include 6-101 GSAB, Fort Campbell, KY; 4-6 CAV/2-158 GSAB, JBLM; 1-212 AVN REGT, Fort Rucker, AL; Office of the Program Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard (OPM SANG), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 8A COMHAWK, Yongsan, South Korea; 3-2 GSAB, Camp Humphreys, South Korea; 2D CAB, Camp Humphreys, South Korea; Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), Vicenza, Italy and currently as the 110th AB CCWO, Fort Rucker, AL.
He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Geography and Economics from Central Washington University. His military education includes the Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC), UH-60A/L Instructor Pilot Course, Warranty Officer Advance Course (WOAC), Rotary Wing Instrument Flight Examiner Course, Warrant Officer Senior Course (WOSC), Aviation Safety Officer Course (ASO), Aviation Branch: Battalion Commanders Pre-Command Course (PCC), and the CSA’s Core Course / Brigade Pre-Command Course.
CW5 Eelkema’s military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service medal (4 OLC), Air Medal (3 numerals), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas service Ribbon and the NATO Medal. Mr. Eelkema also has earned the Combat Action Badge, Master Aviator Badge, and Air Assault Badge. CW5 Eelkema is the recipient of the Order of Saint Michael (Bronze).
In 2003, he was married to the former Ms. Lisa Helleson of Ellensburg, Washington. Together they have two daughters, Lauren born in 2007 and Maggie who was born in 2010.