Squadron Augment Unit | HT-28

Commanding Officer

CDR Jason "SonnyG" Grancagnolo after graduating from West Hampton Beach High school enlisted in the Navy Delayed Entry Program and completed boot camp in Great Lakes, IL April of 1993. He was designated as an Aviation Apprentice and was stationed with the Pelicans of Patrol Squadron 45 in Jacksonville, FL. Over the next two years, he worked as a plane captain, completing tactical deployments to Iceland, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and the Panama Canal zone. Airman Grancagnolo was then awarded a NROTC scholarship and was released to attend college.

Upon graduating from the University of Arizona in May 2002 with a degree in History/Civil Engineering, Grancagnolo was commissioned into the Marine Corps. After he completed the Basic School, Grancagnolo then attended flight school in Corpus Christi, TX and Pensacola, FL where he earned his "Wings of Gold".After being designated a Naval Aviator in May 2005, Grancagnolo reported to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron (HMT) 302 for training in the CH-53E Super Stallion at Marine Corps Air Station in New River, NC. After completion of training, he reported to the "Pegasus" of HMH-463 in Kaneohe Bay, HI, where he subsequently transitioned to the CH-53D Sea Stallion. Grancagnolo completed 2 deployments with HMH-463. The First Deployment to Al Assad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and the subsequent Deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

Captain Grancagnolo then transferred to MAG-24 working as an assistant Operations Officer and then to the Ugly Angels of HMH-363 where he deployed to Helmond providence in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

In March 2011, Grancagnolo reported to the "Hellions" of Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 28 as an Instructor Pilot. While assigned to HT-28, he has earned multiple qualifications including all Standardization qualifications in the TH-57C. While working for HT-28, Grancagnolo transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve Instructor Pilot Program and would then come full circle back to the Navy as a Selected Reservist. He currently serves as a Standardization Instructor Pilot and Squadron Augment Unit Commanding Officer of HT-28.

In more than 25 years of Military Service CDR Grancagnolo has accumulated near 5,000 Military flight hours; with over 3,000 as a flight instructor; more than 3,000 civilian flight hours and 4 FAA Type Ratings ranging from the AW-139 Helicopter to Airbus 320 Airliner. His military decorations include the Strike/Flight Air Medal (5), Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2) and various other personal, campaign and unit awards.