LtCol Hurst, a native Texan, graduated from the Naval Academy in May 2002 where he received his commission with a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics. Following The Basic School he reported for flight training in NAS Pensacola, and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 2004 in NAS Corpus Christi, TX. He transferred to VMGRT-253, MCAS Cherry Point, NC for Fleet Replacement Squadron training in the KC-130, completed KC-130J Pilot Initial Qualification at Little Rock Air Force Base in December 2004, and reported to VMGR-252 in January 2005.

While at VMGR-252, he served in multiple squadron roles, deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006 and 2008, and in October 2008, he was transferred to 2d Tank Battalion at Camp Lejeune, NC to serve as a Forward Air Controller. During this tour, Capt Hurst served as the H&S Company Commander as well as 2d Tank Battalion Executive Officer in addition to Air Officer duties. October 2009, Captain Hurst returned to VMGR-252 and continued to work on various mission qualifications. September 2010, he was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, and graduated with Class 140. He served at VX-20 from January 2012 – December 2014 as the K/C-130 project officer and platform coordinator. In December 2014, Major Hurst returned to USNTPS as a fixed wing flight test instructor.

Selected for the FY16 Commandant’s Professional Intermediate-Level Education board, he was assigned to represent the Marine Corps at the Joint Command and Staff Program in Canada. In January 2017, Major Hurst was selected to be an Acquisition Officer, and moved to PMA-207 to assume the role of Deputy Program Manager of the C/KC-130 team. In July 2020, LtCol Hurst was selected to be the PEO(A) Chief of Staff until his selection in 2021 for acquisition command as the PMA-275 MV-22 Deputy Program Manager. In the fall of 2022, he was selected for Top Level School and assigned to the Secretary of Defense Fellowship program where he worked alongside senior leaders at Textron Systems. Having completed his fellowship, he is now assigned as the Marine Aviation Detachment Executive Officer.

LtCol Hurst has over 2,600 flight hours in 22 models of jet, prop and rotary wing aircraft.  His personal decorations include am Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral “8”, the Meritorious Service Medal(2), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), and a Humanitarian Service Medal.