Lieutenant Colonel Braudt took command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 on 13 December 2024. He is a native of Dallas, TX, and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in June 2006 with a degree in Systems Engineering. After commissioning at Officer Candidates School, LtCol Braudt attended The Basic School in Quantico, VA and flight school in Florida, Texas, and Mississippi. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 2010.
LtCol Braudt completed training in the AV-8B Harrier II with Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 and reported to MCAS Yuma in March 2011 for assignment with Marine Attack Squadron 311. During his tour with the Tomcats, LtCol Braudt’s billets included S-1 Officer in Charge (OIC), Airframes OIC, and Schedules Officer. LtCol Braudt deployed in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in December 2011, participating in theater security cooperation events from the USS Essex. In April 2013 LtCol Braudt deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, flying more than 100 combat missions in Regional Command Southwest from Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.
In March 2014, LtCol Braudt completed Tactical Aircraft Control Party (TACP) school and reported to MCB Camp Pendleton for assignment to 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as a Forward Air Controller. He deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program in October 2014, controlling multiple joint and partner nation aircraft in exercises such as Cobra Gold and Forest Light throughout Japan and Thailand.
LtCol Braudt transitioned to the F-35B Lightning II in July 2015 and reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 at MCAS Yuma. LtCol Braudt took part in the first F-35 Red Flag in the summer of 2016 and the first F-35 TRANSPACIFIC movement as he relocated with the Green Knights to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan in December 2016.
In October 2017, LtCol Braudt graduated from Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course 1-18. He was the Detachment Operations Officer of the first operational deployment of the F-35, deploying in February 2018 on the USS Wasp in support of 31st MEU 18.1, and in February 2019 as the VMM-262(REIN) F-35 Operations Officer on 31st MEU 19.1. LtCol Braudt’s duties in VMFA-121 included Airframes OIC, Quality Assurance Officer, Pilot Training Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. As the only permanently assigned 5th Generation aircraft in theater at the time, LtCol Braudt took part in multiple large-force exercises across INDOPACOM, including Northern Edge, Vigilant Ace, Valiant Shield, Ssang Yong, Balikatan, and Continuous Bomber Presence missions.
In September 2020, LtCol Braudt reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1). At MAWTS-1, LtCol Braudt instructed in both the F-35B and the F-35C while serving as TACAIR Department Head, Major Evolution Coordinator, and Subject Matter Expert in several topic areas including Close Air Support, Air to Surface Ordnance, and Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). He also augmented Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401, flying the F-5N Tiger II as an adversary pilot. In August 2023, LtCol Braudt joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 as the Operations Officer. With the Avengers, LtCol Braudt took part in CONUS and OCONUS exercises such as Bamboo Eagle and Force Design 2030 Integration Exercise.
LtCol Braudt has more 2,000 flight hours. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with numeral 3, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He is married and he and his wife have three children.