Colonel Brad Hipp graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May of 1998, earning a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. Second Lieutenant Hipp graduated from The Basics School with Company E-98 and attended The Infantry Officers Course (IOC), graduating with class 3-99.
Upon graduation from IOC, he completed flight school training in Pensacola, Florida, Corpus Christi, Texas, and earned his wings in April of 2001 in Kingsville, Texas. After completing flight training, First Lieutenant Hipp joined Strike Fighter Squadron 106 in Oceana, Virginia, for initial F/A-18 training.
In the fall of 2002, Captain Hipp joined Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA(AW)-224), where his billets included the embarkation officer and the squadron Aviation Safety Officer. During this tour, Captain Hipp deployed to the Western Pacific in support of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) and to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In the fall of 2005, Captain Hipp joined 2d Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as a Supporting Arms Liaison Team leader in 2d Brigade Platoon. During this tour, he deployed to Habbaniyah, Iraq, where he lived with and supported the 3d Brigade, 1st Division of the newly formed Iraqi Army in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In the fall of 2006, Captain Hipp was assigned to VMFA(AW)-224, where he served as the Assistant Aviation Maintenance Officer, the Pilot Training Officer, and the Operations Officer and deployed twice to the Western Pacific in support of the UDP. He attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and the Weapons Tactics Instructor course during this tour.
From 2010 through 2013, Major Hipp served as an F/A-18 instructor at Marine Aviation Weapons Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, Arizona. While at MAWTS-1, he also served as the Aviation Development, Tactics, and Evaluation Department's Anti-Air Warfare Specialist.
In 2013, the Commandant's Professional Intermediate-Level Education Board selected Major Hipp to attend the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). While at NPS, Major Hipp earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with cyber and sensors focus areas. His thesis, Performance Analysis of Link 16 Against Varying Configurations of a Known Threat Partial Band Noise Jammer, received the NPS Outstanding thesis designation.
In 2015, Lieutenant Colonel Hipp assumed the role of Director of Safety and Standardization for Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) in Beaufort, South Carolina. From June 2016 through October 2017, he served as the MAG-31 Executive Officer.
In 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Hipp augmented VMFA-115 for the final six weeks of their deployment in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE before taking command of the Silver Eagles in January 2019. He subsequently deployed VMFA-115 to the Western Pacific in March 2020 in support of UDP. While deployed, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel on 1 July 2020.
In March 2022, Colonel Hipp graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, earning a Master of Arts with the highest distinction in National Security and Strategic Studies and was recognized as the President’s Honor Graduate.
Colonel Hipp’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (Strike Flight, Eighth Award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (Sixth Award). Additionally, Colonel Hipp has accrued over 3,000 flight hours in the F/A-18.