Lieutenant Colonel John Kress is a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated from Liberty High School in May 2004 and attended the United States Naval Academy. In May 2008, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Upon completion of The Basic School in January 2009, he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in May 2011.
After receiving his wings, First Lieutenant Kress reported to VMFAT-101 at MCAS Miramar, CA for initial training in the F/A-18A-D Hornet. He was promoted to Captain in July 2012 and then assigned to VMFA(AW)-224 at MCAS Beaufort in August 2013. He deployed to the Western Pacific in 2013 and 2015 in support of the Unit Deployment Program. While with VMFA(AW)-224, he served as Schedules Officer, Assistant Logistics Officer, and Aviation Safety Officer. In March 2015, Captain Kress graduated from Aviation Safety Officer Course 15-3. Additionally, Captain Kress graduated from the MAWTS-1 Marine Division Tactics Course (MDTC) in February 2016.
Captain Kress then returned to VMFAT-101 at MCAS Miramar, CA for duty as an F/A-18 Instructor Pilot. While at VMFAT-101, he served as Schedules Officer and Flight Officer.
In June 2018, Captain Kress reported to Edwards AFB, CA to attend USAF Test Pilot School Class 18B and was then promoted to Major in July 2018. Major Kress served as the senior ranking officer for his class. He was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of the school in June 2019, receiving a Master of Science degree in Flight Test Engineering.
In July 2019, Major Kress reported to VX-31 at NAWS China Lake, CA for duty as a Developmental Test Pilot and F/A-18 Project Officer. During his tour as a test pilot, Major Kress was responsible for the testing and development of multiple F/A-18 systems including the platform Software Configuration Set, the APG-73 and APG-79v4 radars, the Litening Pod, and a developmental automatic ground collision avoidance system. Major Kress graduated from the Air Command and Staff College Distance Education Program in 2021.
In August 2022, Major Kress reported to VMFA-232 at MCAS Miramar. From September 2022 to June 2024, he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer, leading the squadron's maintenance department through a detachment to Hawaii in support of Pacific Edge 2024, and a deployment to the Western Pacific in support of the Unit Deployment Program. In March, 2024, he promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. From June 2024 to June 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Kress served as the VMFA-232 Executive Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Kress' personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal (3rd Award) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
He is married and he and his wife have two children.