Biography
Commanding Officer, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362
Lieutenant Colonel Ricky D. Buria

Lieutenant Colonel Buria graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May of 2004.  He was designated a Naval Aviator in November 2006.

Upon completion of the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the EA-6B Prowler in December 2007, he reported to Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ) 1, the Banshees.  During his tour with the Banshees, Lieutenant Colonel Buria served as the NATOPS Officer, Powerline Officer in Charge, Aviation Safety Officer, Director of Safety and Standardization, Assistant Operations Officer, Assistant Aviation Maintenance Officer and Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14 Flight Leadership and Standardization Evaluator.  Lieutenant Colonel Buria deployed to Al Asad, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; to Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR; and twice to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  Also, while with the Banshees, Lieutenant Colonel Buria graduated from the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor course in Yuma, Arizona.

In July 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Buria transferred to Marine Corps Base Quantico to attend the Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS).  Upon completion of EWS, he transferred to the Aviation Standards Branch at Training and Education Command (TECOM) to serve as the Fixed Wing Training and Readiness Analyst.  While at TECOM, Lieutenant Colonel Buria was selected to transition to the MV-22B Osprey.  

In August 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Buria reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron (VMMT) 204 to begin his transition to the MV-22B.  In December 2013, upon completion of training at VMMT-204, Lieutenant Colonel Buria reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 266, the Fighting Griffins.  While serving with the Fighting Griffins, Lieutenant Colonel Buria served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer.  Lieutenant Colonel Buria deployed with VMM-266 in support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF) 15.1 and SPMAGTF-CR-AF 16.2. 

In February 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Buria transferred to Naval Station Newport to attend the Naval Command and Staff College at the U.S. Naval War College.

In March 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Buria graduated from the U.S. Naval War College and reported to Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation and served as the Assault Support Planner (APP-41) and the International Plans and Policies Officer (APP-59).

In June 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Buria transferred to The Basic School and assumed the role of Executive Officer.

In July 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Buria transferred to MAG-16 and assumed the role of Executive Officer.   

In November 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Buria transferred to VMM-362 and assumed his role as the Commanding Officer of the Ugly Angels.  

Lieutenant Colonel Buria is a Distinguished Graduate of The Basic School and the Aviation Safety Officer Course.  Lieutenant Colonel Buria holds a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from the United States Naval Academy, Master of Arts degrees from Marshall University and the U.S. Naval War College and was a 2020 Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI.  His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), the Air Medal Strike/Flight (w/numeral 17), and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award)