Lieutenant Colonel Lanier “Pope” Bishop was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. Following graduation from Georgia Southern University in 2006, LtCol Bishop was commissioned and attended The Basic School with Echo Co in 2007. Reporting to NAS Pensacola FL for flight training, LtCol Bishop subsequently earned his wings in December 2010 at NAS Kingsville, TX. After completing initial training in the F/A-18 Hornet at VFA-106, LtCol Bishop reported to MAG-31 to join the FMF.
In 2012, LtCol Bishop deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan serving with NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan at Camp Eggers. While deployed as a part of NTM-A, he served as an Air Liaison Officer, convoy commander, and head defensive small arms instructor for NTM-A coalition personnel. Following redeployment, LtCol Bishop joined VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts” completing a full Air Wing work up and 9-month combat cruise aboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) supporting OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE.
After returning from cruise in 2015, LtCol Bishop attended and was the honor graduate of Tactical Air Control Party course 16-1 at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic. Following TACP school, he joined “The Betio Bastards” of 3d Battalion, 2d Marines as a Forward Air Controller, deploying to the western Pacific as part of the Global Response Force.
In February of 2017, LtCol Bishop rejoined VMFA-251 completing a deployment to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program, supporting numerous exercises in Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Following deployment, LtCol Bishop was selected to attend the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) graduating with class 03-18. Following TOPGUN, LtCol Bishop attended and graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 18-2 at MAWTS-1. Returning to the squadron as the Pilot Training Officer, LtCol Bishop prepared the unit for a combat deployment as the first composite squadron in the Marine Corps, combining F/A-18Cs and F/A-18Ds into the same unit. In December operations supporting OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. of 2019,
VMFA-251 deployed to Sheik Isa AB, Bahrain for combat.
Following the squadron’s return from combat and subsequent sundown, LtCol Bishop was invited to return to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 (MAWTS-1) as an F/A-18 Instructor. While on staff at MAWTS-1, he served as the subject matter expert in Air-to-Ground gunnery, Targeting Pods, Combat Systems, Basic Fighter Maneuvers, Section Engaged Maneuvering, and Fighter Integration. In
the summer of 2022 LtCol Bishop reported to VFA-125 at NAS Lemoore for training on the F-35C. While serving as an instructor pilot with VFA-125, LtCol Bishop also served as the Safety Department Head, Operations Officer, and Senior Marine.
In August 2024, LtCol Bishop was selected to Command VMFA-314 “Black Knights” as part of Carrier Air Wing 9 aboard the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
LtCol Bishop’s personal awards include the Air Medal-Strike/Flight, Joint Service Commendation medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal gold stars in lieu of third award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal, and other various campaign and unit awards.
LtCol Bishop has accumulated more than 150 carrier arrested landings, flying over 2000 combined hours in the F/A-18 and F-35C with over 200 hours in combat over Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. His qualifications and designations include section lead, division lead, mission commander, Post Maintenance Check Flight pilot, NATOPS Evaluator, Instrument Instructor, Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor, Weapons and Tactics instructor, Flight Lead Standardization Evaluator, Night Systems Instructor, and Low Altitude Tactics Evaluator.
LtCol Bishop is married, and he and his wife have three sons.