(Salem, OR) -- Governor Tina Kotek has ordered flags on state buildings to be lowered to half-staff today to honor U.S. Navy Commander Gabriel Edwards, who died on July 1st, following an emergency helicopter landing in the Arabian Sea. Edwards is from Oakland, Oregon and graduated from Norfolk State University under the Naval ROTC program. He served with multiple elite units. He assumed command of the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron HSC-5, the "Nightdippers," in July 2025.