Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Seth Frame, a native of Paola, Kansas, graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Technology Management before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 2007. After completing The Basic School and Naval Flight Training, he reported to VMMT-204 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina, for MV-22B Osprey training.
Upon completing his Osprey training in 2010, 1st Lieutenant Frame was assigned to VMM-162 "Golden Eagles." He was promoted to Captain in April 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from June to December 2011. Captain Frame's second deployment came in 2014, when he deployed to Moron, Spain, with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) 14.2. During his time with the Golden Eagles, Captain Frame served in several key leadership roles, including Communications Officer and Logistics Officer.
In 2014, Captain Frame was selected to assist in the transition of HMM-364 "Purple Foxes" from the CH46E Sea Knight to the MV-22B Osprey at MCAS Camp Pendleton, California. He served as the Quality Assurance Officer for the newly redesignated VMM-364 until completing Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) in April 2016. Following his WTI graduation, Captain Frame became the Pilot Training Officer, where he prepared the squadron for its first deployment as a VMM. In 2017, he deployed with the Purple Foxes to Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, as part of SPMAGTF-CR-CC 17.2 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and was promoted to Major in May 2017.
Following his return from Kuwait, Major Frame attended Tactical Air Control Party School and WTI (Air Officer Course) and was designated a Forward Air Controller and Joint Terminal Attack ControllerEvaluator. He subsequently reported to Headquarters, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, where he served as Deputy Air Officer until January 2020.
Following his Division Air Officer tour, Major Frame reported to VMM-268 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where he served as Operations Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and Executive Officer. During this assignment, he deployed with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, Australia 22.2.
In November 2022, Maj Frame was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was assigned to Commander, Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, HI and served in the International Plans division. Following his time at Pacific Fleet, Lieutenant Colonel Frame was re-assigned to MAG-24 in November of 2023 and assumed the duties of Executive Officer until being selected as the Commanding Officer of VMM-165.
Lieutenant Colonel Frame has logged over 2,300 hours in the MV-22B. His personal awards include the Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral “4,” the Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of 2nd award), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of 2nd award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.