Captain Lena (Buettner) Kaman, a native of Shawano, Wisconsin, is the daughter of a Navy veteran of Korea and Vietnam. She became a member of the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French in 2000.
CAPT Kaman was designated as a Naval Aviator in March 2002 and reported to HSL-40 in Mayport, FL for SH-60B Seahawk training. She reported to HSL-48 in Mayport, FL and deployed onboard the USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55) from February – August 2004 on a MED/MEF cruise and onboard the USS THOMAS S. GATES (CG 51) from June – September 2005 in support of UNITAS and PANAMEX. She was awarded the Air Medal for flying over 100 combat hours in support of OPERATIONS IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM.
Following her first fleet tour, CAPT Kaman reported to HT-18, NAS Whiting Field, FL, in January 2006 as an instructor pilot in the TH-57. During this tour, she was awarded the Pensacola Lions Club HT-18 Instructor of the Year for 2007. She served as Training Air Wing Five’s TH-57 Standardization Officer from June 2008 through August 2009. She transitioned to the Navy’s Full Time Support community (now Training and Administration of Reserves) in February 2009. CAPT Kaman became a member of America’s Squadron, HT-8, in August 2009. She was awarded the Association of the United States Navy Full Time Support Officer of the Year for all Chief of Naval Air Training squadrons for 2010. In 2011, she earned her Masters of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
In January 2012, CAPT Kaman joined the staff of the Chief of Naval Personnel in Washington, DC where she served as the Head, Enlisted Advancement Planner. She then served as the Flag Aide for the Chief of Navy Reserve from July 2014 to September 2016. She graduated with a Masters of National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, RI in November 2017. CAPT Kaman joined the HT-8 Eightballer team in April 2018 and served first as the Executive Officer and then as the Commanding Officer until September 2020. Under her leadership, the squadron earned the CNATRA Training Excellence Award for advanced helicopter training. She was a Legislative Fellow in the House of Representatives throughout 2021 and then served on the staff of the Chief of Navy Reserve in the legislative affairs directorate until June 2022. CAPT Kaman became the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in August 2022.
CAPT Kaman has flown more than 4,200 hours in naval aircraft. Her personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), and various service and campaign ribbons. She is married to Christian Kaman of Maryland, and they have twin toddler sons, Jean-Paul and Theodore.
Last Updated: 22 December 2022