VT-6 Leadership

Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Wortendyke is from Hudson, OH and received his commission upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 2003. Upon completion of The Basic School in January 2004, he was assigned to flight training and designated a Naval Aviator on 18 October 2005. He then reported to VFA-125 in NAS Lemoore, CA for follow-on training in the F/A-18 Hornet.

Lieutenant Colonel Wortendyke reported to the Checkerboards of VMFA-312 aboard MCAS Beaufort in November 2006 where he served as the NATOPS Officer, Ground Safety Officer, Airframes Division Officer, Logistics/Embark Officer, Schedule writer, Flight Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. He executed two deployments, first part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to the Western Pacific, then a combat deployment to the Arabian Gulf and North Arabian Sea on board the USS TRUMAN (CV 75) in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) and NEW DAWN (OND).

In January 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Wortendyke transferred to Camp Lejeune to serve as a Forward Air Controller for India Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. During this tour, after being back from sea for only five months, he deployed to Marjah, Afghanistan in support of OEF.

Lieutenant Colonel Wortendyke then returned to the Checkerboards in the summer of 2012, where he joined the squadron for a second carrier based combat deployment aboard USS TRUMAN, once again supporting OEF. While assigned to VMFA-312, prior to deployment, he successfully completed the Marine Division Tactics Course. The Checkerboards received the 2013 Robert M. Hanson award. In January of 2014, he was promoted to Major. Upon return from deployment, he took over as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer (AMO). In October of 2014, he graduated from Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-15.

Lieutenant Colonel Wortendyke then served as the AMO and XO until going on a second UDP to the western pacific. Once on deployment he was able to turn over the AMO billet, but remained XO for the next year until moving to be an instructor at MAWTS-1. While at MAWTS-1, he served two years in the F/A-18 shop, and then took over as the TACAIR Department Head. After MAWTS-1, he became the responsible officer for Light Attack, Adversary, Contract Air Services, and T-45 follow on trainer; as well as, O-5 Joint Fires Support Executive Steering Committee representative, Forward Air Controller(Airborne) occupational field sponsor, and Tactical Air Control Party advocate at HQMC Aviation. In November 2019, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

Lieutenant Colonel Wortendyke was assigned to VT-6 in July of 2021 as the PXO, then assumed the role of XO in July of 2022.

Lieutenant Colonel Wortendyke has flown over 2,000 mishap-free flight hours in the F/A-18, recorded over 300 traps, and completed over 60 combat missions. His decorations include three Strike Flight Awards, two Meritorious Service Medals, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal.