LtCol Oates was born in Midland, MI and grew up in Beaverton, MI. He graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in December 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. He was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and reported to Quantico, Virginia for Basic Officer's Course, graduating in July 2008. Following graduation, he attended Naval Flight School at NAS Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 2010.
LtCol Oates checked in to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 (HMLAT-303) in July 2010 and completed UH-1Y training in March 2011. He was then assigned to HMLA-369 Gunfighters and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) from November 2011 to May 2012. After returning to CONUS, LtCol Oates progressed through the UH-1Y Training & Readiness syllabus and was selected to attend Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course in September of 2013.
Upon graduation from WTI 1-14, LtCol Oates again deployed to Afghanistan is support of OEF, from November 2013 to May 2014. Upon returning to CONUS, LtCol Oates remained a part of the Gunfighters until May 2015.
In June 2015, LtCol Oates reported to the 1st Expeditionary Operations Training Group (EOTG), G-7, First Marine Expeditionary Force (IMEF) for duties as the Air Officer. During his time at 1st EOTG, LtCol Oates had the opportunity to serve as the principle Air and Fires Officer to help train four Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) and five Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Forces (SPMAGTFs) during their pre-deployment training package. Additionally, during this time, LtCol Oates attended TACP school, Helicopter Rope Suspension Technique Master Course, Army Airborne School, Fire Support Coordinator’s Course, Amphibious Ready Group/MEU Staff Planning Course, and Personnel Recovery 301 and 309 courses, becoming a Personnel Recovery Manager.
In June 2018, LtCol Oates reported to MAG-39. Upon checking into MAG-39, LtCol Oates was selected as an Individual Augment to the 15th MEU Command Element (CE), which subsequently changed into SPMAGTF-Crisis Response-Central Command 19.1 (SPMAGTF-CR-CC 19.1) to serve as the Air Cell Operations Officer. LtCol Oates checked into SPMAGTF-CR-CC 19.1 CE in July 2018, deploying to the Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility from December 2018 to August 2019. Upon re-deploying back to CONUS, LtCol Oates checked back into MAG-39 in September 2019 and immediately began his refresh syllabus in the UH-1Y.
In November 2019, LtCol Oates joined the HMLA-169 Vipers as the S-4 Logistics Officer. He served as the S-4 Officer from December 2019 to May 2020, then took over as the Operations Officer. LtCol Oates served as the Operations Officer from May 2020 to December 2020, when he took over as the Executive Officer. From March 2021 to October 2021, LtCol Oates deployed with Vipers to Okinawa for their Unit Deployment Program (UDP). LtCol Oates continued as the Viper Executive Officer after re-deployment to CONUS from October 2021 to January 2022.
From January 2022 to June 2022, LtCol Oates served as the 1st Marine Division Deputy Air Officer. During this time, LtCol Oates participated with the 1st Marine Division in MAGTF Warfighting Exercise from March to April 2022. In June 2022, LtCol Oates accepted orders to Plans, Policies, and Operations (PP&O) at the Pentagon.
From July 2022 to June 2024, LtCol Oates served as the Current Operations Group OIC, Current Operations, (POC), PP&O. During his time as PP&O, LtCol Oates was the principal Marine Corps operations briefer to the Secretary of the Navy and Commandant of the Marine Corps. In August of 2023, LtCol Oates was selected to serve as the Commanding Officer of HMLA-267.
From July 2024 to May 2025, LtCol Oates reported back to MAG-39 to serve as the Operations Officer (OPSO). During his time as the OPSO, LtCol Oates went forward from April to May 2025 to the Philippines with the MAG-39 headquarters to serve as 3D MAW Forward during Exercise BALIKATAN 25. After return to CONUS in May 2025, LtCol Oates assumed command of the Stingers on 13 June 2025.
LtCol Oates has accumulated over 2,000 mishap-free flight hours. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Gold Star in lieu of Second Award), Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral Nine, and the Meritorious Service Medal (Second Gold Star In lieu of Third award).