Lieutenant Colonel Rogelio Maese graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Oceanography and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps in May 2003. Upon completion of The Basic School in March 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Maese reported to Naval Aviation Training Command in Pensacola, Florida and Corpus Christi, Texas and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 2005.
In September 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Maese reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron (HMHT) 302 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina for training in the CH-53E “Super Stallion.”
In March 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Maese reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 363, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 24 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for training in the CH-53D “Sea Stallion.” While assigned to the “Red Lions,” Lieutenant Colonel Maese served as an Operational Schedule Writer, Flight Equipment Officer, Airframes Officer, Pilot Training Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor. Lieutenant Colonel Maese deployed three times with HMH-363; from October 2006 to May 2007 and May 2008 to January 2009 to Al Asad, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. In 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Maese deployed to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan is support of Operation[CSME1] [MLR2] ENDURING FREEDOM.
In December of 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Maese reported to Marine Helicopter Squadron One at Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, Virginia where he served as the Manpower Officer and Flight Operations Officer from 2010-2014. Lieutenant Colonel Maese served as a Presidential Pilot from 2013-2014. Following this assignment, Lieutenant Colonel Maese attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia, graduating in 2015, earning a Master of Military Studies degree.
In July 2015, Lieutenant Colonel Maese reported to HMH-465, MAG-16 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California. While assigned to the “Warhorse,” he served as the Aviation Maintenance Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer and deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of a Unit Deployment Program. Upon return from deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Maese served on the 3d Marine Air Wing staff as the Future Operations Officer until April 2018.
Lieutenant Colonel Maese served as the Military Aide to the President of the United States of America in May 2018 - July 2020. During this time he completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI – Foreign Politics, International Relations, and National Interest. Following this assignment, Lieutenant Colonel Maese reported to MAG-16 and served as the Executive Officer from September 2020 to January 2021.
Lieutenant Colonel Maese has flown over 2,800 mishap-free flight hours, over 900 of which are on Night Vision Goggles and 500 in combat. His military awards and decorations include a Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/ 11th Strike Flight Award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of second award, and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is authorized to wear the Presidential Service Badge.
Lieutenant Colonel Maese is married to Lieutenant Colonel Tracy A. Maese, Commanding Officer, Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. They are the proud parents of two sons, Aydan and Mateo.