JACKSONVILLE, Florida. — The U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) achieved a significant milestone in its counter-drug mission completing 1,000 interdictions of suspected drug trafficking vessels August 25, 2025. Since October 1, 2024, HITRON…
In this documentary series, the U.S. Coast Guard members spoke with Captain Mike Campbell, he was the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron’s (HITRON) first aviation engineer officer from 2001 to 2005, and HITRON’s Commanding Officer from…
In this documentary series, the Coast Guard spoke with other HITRON member, the Rear Admiral USCG (Ret) David Kunkel. David W. Kunkel was retired as a U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral in 2008 with 35…
In this documentary series, the U.S. Coast Guard spoke with retired Captain Walter Reger, the third commanding officer of HITRON (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron). HITRON operations started as an experiment in 1998 to halt the…
Video by Cmdr. Ace Castle Interview and edition by Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Stanton In this documentary series the Coast Guard spoke with the Cmdr. (Ret) Patrick Merrigan who was the Mission Commander for…
Interview by: Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Stanton.Edited by: Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Stanton. In this documentary series from the HITRON (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron), Coast Guard spoke with Captain USCG (Ret) Richard Bates.…
In this HITRON history series, the USCG spoke with Tony Tangeman (retired Captain). He was the chief of law enforcement for the Coast Guard and the project manager for the proof of concept team that…
In this documentary history series the U.S. Coast Guard spoke with retired Capt. Walter Reger, who was the 3rd commanding officer of the HITRON (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron). The HITRON operations started as an experiment…
In this documentary series the U.S. Coast Guard spoked with Charles Anthony Hopkins, a Chief Warrant Officer retired with nearly 32 years in military service and was one of the original ten members to stand…
The U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) operations started as an experiment in 1998 to halt the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. Drug trafficking organizations primarily used “go-fast” boats, high-speed smuggling…