Danie Neil Saaiman graduated from San Diego State University in December 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. He completed Recruit Training at MCRD San Diego in May 2004 and was assigned to Weapons Company, First Battalion, Seventh Marines as an Antitank Missileman. He deployed to Husaybah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in August 2004. After returning from Iraq Corporal Saaiman was accepted into the Enlisted Commissioning Program and received his commission in March 2006. 2ndLt Saaiman graduated from The Basic School in December 2006 and reported to Undergraduate Pilot Training in Pensacola, Florida, in March 2007. He was selected for the MV-22 pipeline and received his wings in June 2009, and then reported to the “Blue Knights” Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365.

Captain Saaiman deployed with the Blue Knights to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 10-2 in July 2010, and again in support of OEF 12-1 in January 2012. He served as a schedule writer, the Assistant Logistics Officer and later the S-1 Officer in Charge. He also earned flight leadership designations consisting of aircraft commander, section lead, and division lead, and logged 373.8 combat hours across 165 sorties during OEF 10-2 and 12-1. Upon returning from OEF 12-1 Captain Saaiman earned his designations as a Low Altitude Tactics Instructor and Night Systems Instructor. He deployed again with VMM-365 in April 2013 to Morón, Spain, as part of Special Purpose MAGTF Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR), where he served as the Maintenance Officer and earned his designation as an Assault Flight Lead.

Captain Saaiman returned from SPMAGTF-CR in September 2013, and transferred to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron (VMMT) 204 where he served as the MV-22 NATOPS and Crew Resource Management Program Manager, and MV-22 NATOPS Evaluator. After his acceptance into the United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) Major Saaiman relocated to Patuxent River, MD in April 2016. He graduated from USNTPS Class 151 in June 2017, and joined Helicopter Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 as a member of the V-22 Integrated Test Team (ITT). He served as the ITT Project Officer, Operations Officer, and V-22 Department Head, and participated in experimental test flights in a wide variety of disciplines including flying qualities, aircraft performance, loads, shipboard suitability, crew systems, and digital interoperability. By the time he concluded his tour in Patuxent River, Major Saaiman had logged time in over 30 different fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.

Major Saaiman joined the VMM-265 “Dragons” as the Executive Officer (XO) in Okinawa, Japan in July 2020. With the Dragons he supported numerous exercises around Okinawa and mainland Japan, as well as two patrols with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. After his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel he served as the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Air Officer, prior to assuming his current duties as the Marine Corps Installations Pacific Headquarters and Support Battalion XO in August 2022. He is Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) Level 3 certified in Dutch/Flemish, DLPT Level 4 certified in Afrikaans, DAWIA Level 2 certified in the test and evaluation occupational field, and holds a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Bronze Numeral 7, the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, and the Combat Action Ribbon.