Our Hangar Bay Hero: LT Steve "Deet" Combs

LT Steve “Deet” Combs and I were also roommates in flight school — during a time when we were both training to fly, each of us on a different track. From day one, Steve had this energy about him — an infectious smile, a positive attitude, and a real zest for life. No matter how stressful things got, he never seemed rattled. He brought a sense of calm, humor, and perspective that made him someone everyone wanted to be around.

Originally from Florida and raised in the Berkshires, Steve graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder before commissioning into the Navy. He went on to become a C-2A Greyhound pilot — a critical role supporting carrier onboard delivery missions. He trained with VAW-120 and was later assigned to VRC-30 Detachment 5 aboard the USS Ronald Reagan.

In November 2017, Steve was tragically killed in a C-2A crash while flying a routine mission to the Ronald Reagan off the coast of Okinawa. He was just 28. It was a heartbreaking loss, not just for those of us who knew him personally, but for the entire community of people whose lives he touched.

Steve lived fully and gave fully. He was a loyal friend, a talented aviator, and a guy who genuinely enjoyed life. I consider myself lucky to have shared that time with him in flight school — he made the tough days easier and the good days even better.

Steve’s legacy lives on in the people who knew and loved him, and in the example he set every day — to work hard, stay humble, and always find a reason to smile.