VT-6 Leadership

Executive Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Rector is a native of King George, VA and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005. He received his commission through the Officer Candidates School Platoon Leaders Course and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Upon completion of The Basic School in June 2006, he was assigned to flight training and designated a Naval Aviator in May 2008. He then reported to the "Knightriders" of Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 (HMMT-164) at MCAS Camp Pendleton, CA for follow-on training in the CH-46E.

LtCol Rector reported to the "Purple Foxes" of HMM-364 aboard MCAS Camp Pendleton in October 2008 where he served as the S-5 Officer, Schedule Writer, Flight Officer, S-1 Officer, and Airframes Division Officer. He executed two deployments, first in 2009 to Al Asad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and again with the Purple Foxes in 2012 aboard USS Peleliu (LHA-5) as the Air Combat Element for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

LtCol Rector was selected for conversion to the CH-53E and reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 (HMHT-302) aboard MCAS New River, NC in October of 2013. LtCol Rector then returned to the west coast in February of 2014, where he joined the "Warhorse" of HMH-465 at MCAS Miramar, CA. LtCol Rector deployed along with the Warhorse in November of 2014 to Okinawa Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer. In the summer of 2015, he assumed the duties as the Operations Officer and subsequently graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in Yuma AZ. LtCol Rector once again deployed on UDP to Okinawa in November of 2016, this time as the Aviation Maintenance Officer.

LtCol Rector checked into Marine Corps Command and Staff College in July of 2017, graduating in June 2018, earning a Master of Science degree in Military Studies. Following Command and Staff, he was selected to join the "Nighthawks" of Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 (HMX-1) at MCAF Quantico, VA. He served at HMX-1 from June 2018 to June 2022 as the Operations Officer, a White House Liaison Officer, and Marine One Aircraft Commander flying both the Vice President and President of the United States throughout the world in the VH-3D as well as the VH-60N.

Following his tour at HMX-1, LtCol Rector returned to MCAS Miramar and checked into Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) where he served as the Operations Officer from July 2022 to July 2023.

Lieutenant Colonel Rector has flown over 2,600 mishap-free flight hours in the CH-46E, CH-53E, VH-60N, VH-3D, and various other training aircraft. His decorations include The Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and is authorized to wear the Presidential Service Badge.