SAS Leadership

Captain Daniel Testa

United States Navy

Comanding Officer, School of Aviation Safety

Capt. Daniel Testa graduated from Purdue University in December 1997. He was commissioned on December 22, 1997 through the Naval Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program at Purdue University. He holds a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies and Joint Professor of Military Education Phase I accreditation from the United States Naval War College, at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island.

His operational assignments include SH-60B Seahawk pilot for Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 48, Mayport, Florida; Operations Officer for HSL-40, Mayport, Florida, Air Department mini boss on USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7); Executive and Commanding Officer for Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 “Swamp Foxes,” Jacksonville, Florida; airboss on USS Makin Island (LHD-8), San Diego, California; and planning officer for Commander, International Security Assistance Force (COMISAF), which was forward deployed to Afghanistan.

His shore assignments include NATO staff officer for Joint Forces Command Brunssum, Netherlands, Executive Assistant at Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), Pensacola, Florida; and Commanding Officer of Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity (NETSAFA) Pensacola, Florida.

Captain Testa’s awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal and various unit and campaign awards. He was the HSL-48 Officer of the Year for 2010-2011 and won the Navy and Marine Corps Leadership Award for Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Atlantic (CHSMWINGLANT) in 2011.

Commander James Allenburg

United States Navy

Chief Staff Officer, School of Aviation Safety

Commander Jimmy Allenburg, a native of Pensacola, Florida, graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. Following graduation, he received his commission via Officer Candidate School in April of 2003. He then reported for flight school completing Primary flight school with VT-2 in Milton, FL, Multi-engine training with VT-31 in Corpus Christi, TX, and then went on to receive his designation as a Naval Aviator from VT-21 in Kingsville, TX.

His first assignment was with Fleet Logistics Support Squadron FOUR ZERO (VRC-40), the “Rawhides” located in Norfolk, VA. where he completed Detachments aboard the USS Enterprise and the USS Theodore Roosevelt in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2009, Commander Allenburg headed to Pensacola, Florida for his tour with VT-10 conducting Primary Flight Training for Student Naval Flight Officers. During his tour he accumulated 1200 hours in the T-6A and served as a Schedules Officer, Standardization Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer.

In 2012, he reported aboard COMFIFTHFLEET located in Bahrain for his disassociated tour. There he served as the Surface Operations Planning Officer where he was responsible for the scheduling of all surface assets in the Fifth Fleet AOR.

In 2014, he reported back to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron FOUR ZERO, for his department head tour in Norfolk, VA. He served as the Operations Officer, Maintenance Officer, and Safety Officer.

In 2017, he reported to COMLOGWESTPAC (CTF-73) located in Singapore where he served as the Air Operations Officer, Philippine Desk Officer, and the Deputy N3, before reporting to the USS GERALD R. FORD, serving as the Air Operations Officer.

CDR Allenburg reported to the School of Aviation Safety in August 2022 as the Chief Staff Officer and a Safety Management System instructor.

His Military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Marine Corps Achievement Medal among various other unit awards and citations. He has accumulated over 2,500 flight hours in multiple aircraft and over 150 carrier arrested landings.

Google Translation Disclaimer

Google Translate, a third party service provided by Google, performs all translations directly and dynamically.
Naval Safety Command, navalsafetycommand.navy.mil has no control over the features, functions, or performance of the Google Translate service.
The automated translations should not be considered exact and should be used only as an approximation of the original English language content.
This service is meant solely for the assistance of limited English-speaking users of the website.
Naval Safety Command, navalsafetycommand.navy.mil does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information translated.
Some items cannot be translated, including but not limited to image buttons, drop down menus, graphics, photos, or portable document formats (pdfs).
Naval Safety Command, navalsafetycommand.navy.mil does not directly endorse Google Translate or imply that it is the only language translation solution available to users.
All site visitors may choose to use similar tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use Naval Safety Command, navalsafetycommand.navy.mil content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk.
IE users: Please note that Google Translate may not render correctly when using Internet Explorer. Users are advised to use MS Edge, Safari, Chrome, or Firefox browser to take full advantage of the Google Translate feature.
The official text of content on this site is the English version found on this website. If any questions arise related to the accuracy of the information contained in translated text, refer to the English version on this website, it is the official version.