The Hartney story

Declan, a native of Limerick, Ireland, first developed his inspiration to join the U.S. Navy following the release of the movie Top Gun in 1986. From this point on, his path was clear but seemed like an impossible dream for a 16-year-old boy of limited means and living in rural Ireland.

Declan graduated from Salesian Secondary School in Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick in 1988. This was followed with a degree in Civil Engineering from Limerick Institute of Technology, and the completion of an aircraft structural and composites training course at Shannon Aerospace before eventually immigrating to the U.S. in May 1994.

Declan enlisted in the Navy as an Airman and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, Illinois, in December 1994. From there, he reported to Aviation Structural Mechanic (Structures) “A” School at Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC) Millington, Tennessee, where he was selected to maintain the Navy’s most advanced fighter aircraft at the time – the F/A-18 Hornet.

From Millington, Declan reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, for F/A-18 Fleet Readiness Aviation Maintenance Personnel (FRAMP) school for F/A-18 Aviation Hydraulic/Structures Mechanic course. Upon completion of FRAMP, Declan reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131), the “Wildcats”, where he served in the First Lieutenant, Line, and Airframes Divisions and qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, and was Command advanced to Petty Officer Third Class. Declan completed a Mediterranean and Persian Gulf deployment onboard USS George Washington (CVN-73) in support of NATO Operations in Bosnia and Operation Southern Watch in 1996, and the maiden “Round the World” deployment onboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in 1998. He advanced to Petty Officer Second Class in September 1999 and also earned his U.S. citizenship.

In October 1999, Declan reported to the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels), at NAS Pensacola, Florida, where he served in the Airframes and Video work centers. While assigned to the Blue Angels, he earned his bachelor’s degree in aviation management from Southern Illinois University and was selected to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) at NAS Pensacola, Florida.

Declan was commissioned an Ensign in June 2001. After completing the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) manager’s course, he transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146), the “Blue Diamonds”, at NAS Lemoore, California, where he served as Material Control Officer, Line Division Officer, and Aircraft Division Officer. Following the events of 9/11, Declan was deployed to the Arabian Sea onboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was followed by a quick turnaround and a second deployment with the Blue Diamonds onboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) to the Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, and he was also selected as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. In 2004, Declan graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a dual master’s degree in Aeronautical Science.

In January 2005, Declan reported to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 45 (HSL-45), the “Wolfpack”, at NAS North Island, San Diego, California, where he served as Material Control Officer, Maintenance/Material Control Officer, and Assistant Maintenance Officer, and was selected to the rank of Lieutenant. While assigned to the Wolfpack, the squadron earned back-to-back Battle “E” Awards, CNO Safety Awards, and Golden Wrench Awards. In 2007, he earned recognition as the COMHSLWINGPAC “Maintenance Officer of the Year” and the National Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) “Maintenance Officer of the Year” and graduated from the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, with a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

1n January 2008, Declan received orders to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) at Naval Station (NS) Norfolk, Virginia, where he served as Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Quality Assurance Officer and IM-2 Division Officer. During his tour, he completed a Southern Seas Deployment, including disaster relief following the Haiti earthquake in January 2010, and qualified as a Professional Aviation Maintenance Officer (PAMO).

Declan then reported to Naval Special Warfare Special Reconnaissance Team ONE (NSWSRT-1), at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, in June 2010, as the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Maintenance Officer. While assigned to SRT-1, he implemented a complete maintenance program for assigned ScanEagle aircraft in support of deploying Navy SEAL teams during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 2011.

Declan returned to the Blue Angels in September 2013 as the Maintenance Officer, where he completed 126 demonstrations at 67 show sites across the United States.

On 1 March 2016, Declan retired from Active Duty after 21 years of Honorable service. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit citations and awards. It was only fitting that Declan’s career should be book-ended with the release of the “Top Gun Maverick” movie in 2022.