Biography
Commanding Officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122
Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Trent

Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Trent was born in Greenville, South Carolina.  He is a 2003 graduate of Clemson University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the USMCR in May 2003. 

Lt. Col. Trent completed The Basic School with F Company and proceeded to Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, Florida for training to become a Naval Aviator. He conducted Primary Flight Training with Training Squadron Two (VT-2) in Pensacola, Florida and Advanced Strike Training with VT-22 in Kingsville, Texas. In March 2006 Lt. Col. Trent was designated a Naval Aviator and proceeded to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) in Lemoore, California as an F/A-18 Hornet Replacement Pilot. 

Upon completion of F/A-18 Hornet Training, Lt. Col. Trent was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11 in Miramar, California. During this tour Lt. Col. Trent deployed on a Western Pacific deployment aboard the USS John C. Stennis. Upon return, Lt. Col Trent attended and graduated Marine Division Tactics Course (MDTC) 1-10 in June 2010. 

Following graduation of MDTC, Lt. Col Trent was reassigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (VMFA(AW)-225) and subsequently attended and graduated Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course 11-1 in September 2010. At the conclusion of WTI, Lt. Col Trent deployed with VMFA(AW)-225 to MCAS Iwakuni in support of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and served as the Pilot Training Officer. 

In September 2011, Lt. Col Trent reported to Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) School, and subsequently earned the MOS of 7502, Forward Air Controller. He then reported to Second Battalion, Fifth Marines aboard Camp Pendleton, where he served as the Battalion Air Officer, deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 12.2. 

Upon return home, Lt. Col Trent reported to the first operational fleet F-35B squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), Marine Aircraft Group 13 in Yuma, Arizona. In February 2013 he attended F-35B transition training at Eglin AFB with VMFAT-501. In March 2013, Lt. Col Trent earned a 7518 F-35B pilot MOS, and served as the squadron Pilot Training Officer. 

In January 2016, Lt. Col Trent was reassigned as an instructor pilot at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). While at MAWTS-1, Lt. Col Trent served as the F-35B Division Head and as an adversary pilot flying with the “Snipers” of VMFT-401. 

In January 2018, Lt. Col Trent was reassigned to the “Flying Leathernecks” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), where he served as the squadron Operations Officer through November 2019. In November 2019, he was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 13, serving as the Group Executive Officer and Personnel Support Detachment Commanding Officer through March 2021. 

Lt. Col Trent has over 2,200 flight hours and 193 shipboard landings in multiple aircraft models including F/A-18A-D, F-5N/F and F-35B. His personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.