VT-35 Leadership

Executive Officer

Lt. Col. David Dunsworth graduated North Carolina State University with a bachelor of science in civil engineering. He was commissioned in December of 2004 via the Platoon Leaders Course.

Dunsworth completed The Basic School in December of 2005 and entered the aviation training pipeline in Pensacola for primary flight training. Dunsworth was designated a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) in September of 2007 and reported to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 for training and designation as an F/A-18 weapons and systems officer.

After completing the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) syllabus for the F/A-18 at VMFAT-101, Dunsworth reported to VMFA (AW)-225 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in early 2009. While serving with VMFA(AW)-225, Dunsworth deployed twice to Iwakuni, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Plan (UDP), 2009 and 2010.

In 2010, Dunsworth graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course and the Marine Division Tactics Course (MDTC). Dunsworth served as a weapons and systems training officer and assistant operations officer during his tour. Dunsworth was then selected for the transition from NFO to pilot program and reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi to begin primary flight training in 2012.

Dunsworth and was designated a Naval Aviator in March 2014 at NAS Meridian, Mississippi, after graduating advanced jet training. After attending FRS training again at VMFAT-101, Dunsworth was assigned to VMFA-122.

Dunsworth served with VMFA-122 as the logistics officer and aircraft maintenance officer from 2015-2017 and deployed to Iwakuni in support of UDP in 2016. He was reassigned to VMFA(AW)-224 in 2017 to serve as the aircraft maintenance officer and deploy in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2017.

Following his tour with VMFA(AW)-224, Dunsworth received orders to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) and serve as an F/A-18 instructor. While at MAWTS-1, Dunsworth served as the F/A-18 division head. During his tour, he successfully completed five WTI courses and assisted in the complete re-write of the F/A-18 Air Naval Tactics Techniques and Procedures manual for the Marine Corps.

In July 2021, Dunsworth received follow-on orders to Marine Aircraft Group 31 to assume his duties as the executive officer.

In July of 2022, Dunsworth reported to MATSG-22 aboard NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, to begin instructor training in the T-44 Pegasus. He currently serves as the executive officer of the "Stingrays" of VT-35.

He has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours, has over 300 hours of air combat missions, and attained almost every instructor qualification/designation in the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.

Personal awards include: Air Medal (Five Strike/Flight awards), and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (w/ three gold stars). In 2011, he received the Marine Corps Aviation Association award for NFO of the Year.