Our Past Commanding Officers
"Farwell to Forgiving Seas, From sea to shining sea!"

           Stephanie (Bouler) Hyland was born at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA to Navy parents. With her parents’ divorce, she settled in Vermont where her mother joined the Naval Reserve, stationed in Burlington, Vermont. She was first exposed the Sea Cadets in 1976 at the age of 8 but was told she was too young to join and had to be 14 (that unit did not have Navy League Cadets). At 14, she did join Champlain Valley Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, being the first female to do so in the State of Vermont. Her mother, a drilling Reservist was appointed as the female escort officer. Within a year, Stephanie was appointed the Leading Petty Officer and within two, the unit had just about as many female cadets as it did males.

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          Stephanie graduated from Norwich University, the Military College of Vermont, in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, but remained affiliated with Champlain Valley Division throughout her time in college. She was appointed as a Midshipman in January 1987. During that time, her mother, having officially enrolled at some point had become the Commanding Officer and Stephanie, being next in line, was appointed as Executive Officer. During this time, Stephanie was responsible for forming a Navy League Cadet Company for Champlain Valley Division and with her mother the unit grew from only four cadets to over 25.

            While in the Norwich University Corps of Cadets, Stephanie participated in all four years of NROTC, she was a member of the Drill Team for a short time, a member of the Campus Choraleers and a member of Norwich Christian Fellowship. She  played a minor role in the University’s drama club Pegasus Players’ production of “Kismet.” She served as the Company Clerk (Cadet Corporal), Freshman Cadre (Cadet Sergeant), Company Supply Sergeant (Cadet Staff Sergeant) and as the Company Upper Class Platoon Sergeant (Cadet Sergeant First Class).

            In August 1991, Stephanie married Eric Hyland, whom she’d met in college and moved to Connecticut. She and Eric just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year. She and her mother continued with Champlain Valley Division until 1993 when her mother retired and Stephanie transferred to Groton Division at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, CT. At this point, Stephanie had been promoted through the rank of Lieutenant in the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Soon after reporting to Groton Division in 1995, she was appointed as the Executive Officer, a position she has held since, except for three years, that she briefly served on the New England 1-2 Regional Staff.

        Stephanie was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, the highest rank attainable in the Naval Sea Cadet Corps in January 1998.

Stephanie completed NSCC Recruit Training at NCBC, Davisville, RI. Has served on the staff of RTC New England since 1985 where she served as a cadet Master-At-Arms and became the first Sea Cadet to staff the NLCC Recruit Orientation in New England. After becoming a Midshipman, she served as the PAO, Military Evaluations Officer and Security Officer for RTCNE. Due to the demands of having a full time job and family, she switched to the NLCC Recruit Orientation command in 1992 where she served as the Security Officer, Battalion Officer, Executive Officer and in 2008 became the Commanding Officer and has served in that role since.

            Stephanie is proud to have three beautiful daughters. Erica, a “retired” Sea Cadet Chief Petty Officer and former NLCC ship’s Leading Petty Officer, also a graduate of Norwich University; alicea, who spent 12 years in Girl Scouts earning many interest project award badges and has received her master’s degree in Aeropace Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute; and Allison who came to live with Stephanie about year and a half ago when she and her husband became foster parents. Allison’s future is extremely bright.

           Stephanie works full time as the office manager at the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc. She also serves as the editor for their two publications, the Connecticut Nutmegger journal and Connecticut Genealogy News magazine. She served as a soccer coach for her daughter, alicea’s team, and was an assistant Girl Scout troop leader. In her free time, she likes to read and enjoy the antics of her two cats.

Awards include the USNSCC Distinguished Service Ribbon (8), USNSCC Meritorious Recognition Ribbon (7), USNSCC Citation, USNSCC Community Service, USNSCC Unit Commendation (14) and various other USNSCC Ribbons.

            Robert W. Smith a native of Troy, NY joined the U.S. Navy on 27 July 1981, where he reported to Recruit Training Command at RTC Great Lakes Illinois. Upon graduating from RTC as the

Assistant Recruit Chief Petty Officer (A-RPOC) he reported to Naval Training Center San Diego, CA to receive training at Mess Management Specialist “A” School. SA Smith then reported to Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, CT for training at Basic Enlisted Submarine School.

            In January 1982, SA Smith reported to his first operational submarine the USS Haddo (SSN 604) where he completed his first sea tour. In 1985 a newly promoted PO2 Smith reported to Navy Recruiting School in Orlando Florida and then to Navy Recruiting District Buffalo NY, Navy Recruiting Station Erie PA. where he served as a Navy Recruiter. PO2 Smith received several awards including Recruiter of the Month, (2 awards), Key Contributor, Golden Shovel, and Recruiter of the Quarter (2 awards).

           Petty Officer Smith then reported to USS Sculpin (SSN 590) where he served as Leading Petty Officer of the Food Service Division from September 1988-September 1989. Upon completing his tour he reported to Naval Base Norfolk to attend Leading Mess Specialist class “C” School. He then reported to USS Tennessee (SSBN 734 Blue) where he served as Food Service Division Leading Petty Officer until 1993. Petty Officer First Class Smith then reported to Recruit Training Command Orlando FL to serve as a Recruit Training Command Company Commander. During this brief tour Petty Officer Smith commanded four companies. During his tour he was named Sailor of the Month, Sailor of the Quarter, and Sailor of the Year for Recruit Training Command Orlando Florida and Senior Sailor of the Year for Naval Training Center Orlando Florida.

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           Upon the decommissioning of RTC Orlando, Robert reported to the staff of Naval Training Center Orlando FL where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer and served as the Chief Master at Arms of Restricted

Personnel. In 1996, Chief Smith then reported to USS Hartford (SSN 768) homeported in Groton, CT where he served as Food Service

Division Leading Chief Petty Officer and Supply Department Leading Chief Petty Officer. Chief Smith then reported to Submarine Squadron Support Unit New London serving as the Submarine Squadron Food Service Division Leading Chief Petty Officer.

            While serving as a Company Commander in Orlando Florida, Petty Officer First Class Robert Smith was first introduced to the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. As a motivational speaker at a local unit drill he soon became hooked on the thrill of motivating and leading young people to achieve their goals. He soon became the Executive Officer of the Laffey Division. When he reported to Groton to serve on USS Hartford, Chief Smith came upon the, then, Groton Division, where he quickly volunteered to serve as the unit’s Operations Officer. He was appointed to the Sea Cadet rank of Lieutenant and was later promoted to Sea Cadet Lieutenant Commander. In the year 2001 he assumed command and conducted an official name change ceremony to the Nautilus (SSN-571) Division.

In December of 2016, Chief Smith was promoted to Regional Director of New England 1 tack 4 which included Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts. Later, upon the retirement of the Director, Region 1 tack 2 (Connecticut), both regions were combined into 1 tack 2 under Chief Smith as the overall director for Southern New England.

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              Chief Smith is authorized to wear the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5 awards), Navy Unit Commendation, (2 awards), Navy Expeditionary Medal (2 awards), Outstanding Volunteer Community Service Medal, Good Conduct Service Medal (5).  Submarine Warfare Insignia, Strategic Deterrent Patrol Pin, (5), Navy Recruiting Gold Wreath, (7), The USNSCC Distinguished Service Ribbon (3), the USNSCC Meritorious Recognition Ribbon (3) and various other U.S. Navy and USNSCC awards. 

Pending Research and Information....

Pending Research and Information....

Pending Research and Information....

Ernest "Ernie" M. Noddin - Died - July 30, 2010 Ledyard - Ernest "Ernie" M. Noddin, 71, of Ledyard, beloved husband of Sharon

(Connolly). Noddin passed away unexpectedly, Friday July 30, 2010. Born in Ayer, MA he was the son of the late Linwood and Grace (Warnock)

Noddin and lived in Ledyard since 1966. He

attended the American Institute College in Springfield, MA earning his Bachelor's Degree. Ernie was a Lieutenant Commander with the United States Navy. Following his military service, he continued in Civil Service with the Navy as a Research Psychologist up until his retirement in 1994. He was Commanding officer of the Groton Division of the Naval Sea Cadets Corps for ten years. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed being on the open waters aboard party boats from Maine to Florida especially on the Helcat in Groton, CT.