Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Deputy was born in Florida and graduated from Rutgers University in May 1997. He attended the Platoon Leaders Course and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon graduation. Upon completion of The Basic School in March 1998, he reported to Naval Aviation training in Pensacola, FL and was designated a Naval Aviator in April 2000. In May of that year, 1stLt Deputy was assigned to HMT-303 aboard MCAS Camp Pendleton, CA for UH-1N Replacement Aircrew training.
In November of 2000, 1stLt Deputy reported to the HMLA-267 “Stingers”, who were midstream in preparations for an upcoming deployment. The squadron deployed to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa in support of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) in January 2001.
In January of 2003, Capt Deputy deployed with HMLA-267 as part of Amphibious Task Force West in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In June of 2003, the unit deployed to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa in support of a UDP. Capt Deputy attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructors (WTI) course in March of 2004. Capt Deputy became the squadron Pilot Training Officer and chopped to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in June of 2004. In January 2005, the 15th MEU embarked on the USS Bonhomme Richard and deployed to Sumatra, Indonesia in support of Humanitarian Aid / Disaster Relief as part of Operation UNIFIED ASSISTANCE and then to Al Taqqadum, Iraq in support of OIF. At HMLA-267, Capt Deputy served in various operations billets and completed his tours as the Flight Officer. At the conclusion of his tour, Capt Deputy was selected to become a Marine Aviation Weapons & Tactics Squadron-1 (MAWTS-1) Instructor Pilot.
Capt Deputy reported to MAWTS-1 in July 2005 where his duties included UH-1N Division Operations Officer and MAWTS-1 Academic Curriculum Coordinator. In September 2007, Capt Deputy was promoted to Major and assumed the duties as MAWTS-1 Huey Division Head. During his tour he successfully conducted 6 WTI Courses, 6 Desert Talon Courses, and a Lessons Learned trip to Iraq.
In June of 2008, Major Deputy attended the U.S. Naval War College, earned a master’s degree as a Distinguished Graduate, and received orders back to HMLA-267. In November of 2009, he became the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Marine Aircraft Group 39 Flight Leader Standardization Evaluator Program Coordinator.
In August of 2010, Major Deputy was designated as the Light Attack Detachment Officer in Charge (Det OIC) of the 13th MEU, Air Combat Element (ACE) and attached (4) AH-1W, (3) UH-1Ns and (63) Marines to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced). The 13th MEU and HMM-163(REIN) “Evil Eyes” embarked on the USS Boxer in February of 2010 to conduct operations in CENTCOM in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and Combined Task Forces 150 and 151. During the deployment he served as the ACE Operations Officer.
Upon returning from the 13th MEU in September 2011, Major Deputy was assigned as the Marine Aircraft Group 39 Weapons and Tactics Instructor. In the summer of 2011, he received orders to Headquarters, USMC Aviation Department to execute duties as Marine Aviation Attack & Utility Plans Officer (APP-51). Major Deputy served as the H-1 Plans, Policy, Budget and Transition Task Force Lead from June 2012 to June 2014 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in May of 2014. In the summer of 2014, he returned to MAG-39 to be the Current Readiness Officer and Operations Officer.
LtCol Deputy has deployed five times, including two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His personal awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with numeral five, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two stars, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.