LtCol Joseph “VooDoo” Kennedy

LtCol Joseph Kennedy enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1999.  After completing Recruit Training in Great Lakes, IL, he reported to Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Pensacola for Electronic Warfare Technician (EW) ‘A’ and ‘C’ Schools.  EW3 Kennedy received a nomination to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in 2001.  He graduated from the Naval Academy in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Quantitative Economics and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. After graduation from The Basic School in January 2007, First Lieutenant Kennedy reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in October 2008.

First Lieutenant Kennedy reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training (HMLAT) Squadron 303 for initial training as Replacement Aircrew (RAC) in the UH-1Y and was subsequently assigned to the world-famous Gunfighters, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, in June 2009.  While a Gunfighter Captain Kennedy deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, completed the Aviation Safety Officer course, and served in billets supporting the squadron’s administrative, operations, and maintenance departments.  Captain Kennedy returned to HMLAT-303 in May 2013, serving as an instructor for all events in the RAC syllabus and as the UH-1Y Pilot Training Officer supporting the Operations Department. 

While at HMLAT-303 Captain Kennedy was accepted to the United States Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS).  He reported to USNTPS in November 2014 and graduated in December 2015.  Captain Kennedy was assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two One (HX-21) where he served as a Project Officer, engineering test pilot, and H-1 Test Team Department Head/ Government Flight Test Director. In those roles, Major Kennedy conducted developmental flight test and evaluation programs on the UH-1Y and AH-1Z and led an integrated team of military and civilian aircrew and flight test engineers. 

Upon selection as an Aviation Acquisition Officer and Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) pilot, Major Kennedy reported to HMX-1 in July 2019. He achieved designation as a VH-60N and VH-3D White House Helicopter Aircraft Commander and Command Pilot.  As the HMX-1 Acquisition Officer, Maj Kennedy served as the Commanding Officer’s acquisition advocate and managed the VH-92A transition plan.

In July 2022, Major Kennedy was selected for acquisition command and frocked to Lieutenant Colonel.  He reported to Marine Light/Attack Helicopters Program Office (PMA-276) where he served as the Warfighting Readiness Pillar Lead overseeing Production, Training Systems, and In-Service Integrated Product Teams supporting the U. S. Marine H-1 fleet and multiple foreign partners.

Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy reported to the Marine Aviation Detachment Patuxent River in July 2024 to serve as the Executive Officer.

Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 11 strike/flight awards, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.  He has flown more than 2,500 flight hours, of which 600 were in combat, in 33 Type/Model/Series aircraft.