Colonel John Dirk is a native of Texas. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he was a Trident Scholar and conducted independent research into the effects of radiation on microelectronics. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the USMCR in May 2002. Col. Dirk completed The Basic School with E Company, conducted Primary Flight Training with VT-27 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Advanced Strike Training with VT-22 in Kingsville, Texas. Designated a Naval Aviator in 2005 he completed AV-8B Replacement Pilot training with VMFAT-203 in Cherry Point, North Carolina in 2006.
Col. Dirk’s first fleet assignment was Marine Attack Squadron 214 where he deployed twice: once for one year in support of the Unit Deployment Program to Japan, and once as part of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (REIN) in support of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
After completing Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia, Col. Dirk returned to VMA-214 where in spring 2011 he completed the Marine Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, Weapons and Tactics Instructor course. In November 2011 Col. Dirk deployed as the AV-8B Pilot Training Officer for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (REIN) in support of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Col. Dirk attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School with class 145, graduating in 2014 from the Engineering Test Pilot course as the Sydney Sherby Leadership Award recipient. As a test pilot in the F-35 Integrated Test Force, Col. Dirk served as Project Officer for the final F-35B ship trial during System Development and Demonstration aboard USS America. Additionally, he supported cross-disciplinary high-risk testing in the areas of aerial refueling, weapons separation, gunfire, STOVL flying qualities, ski-jump launches, structural loads, flutter, and vibration testing.
Upon return to the fleet in 2017, Col Dirk was assigned to VMFA-211. In November of 2017, Col. Dirk became the Executive Officer of VMFA-122 during the squadron’s transition to the F-35B. He served with VMFA-122 through achievement of Initial Operational Capability including the squadron’s first Deployment for Training. He assumed command of VMFA-122 in June 2019. While in command the unit supported operations and training deployments worldwide including in support of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Exercise Red Flag Nellis, and Task Force America where Col Dirk was the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Commander. After relinquishing command in April 2021 and completing National War College in June 2022, Col Dirk was assigned to the Cost Assessment Program Evaluation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as an Operations Research Analyst.
Col. Dirk is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School, the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, and the Naval Test Pilot School. He holds a B.S. in Physics from the U.S. Naval Academy, an M.S.E.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College where he was recognized with the Sherman Kent Award for excellence in writing. He was the 2017 National Defense Industrial Association USMC Military Tester of the Year and is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with a gold star, and Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars. A mission commander, Weapons Tactics Instructor, Lightning Tactics Instructor, and Training Landing Signals Officer, he has accumulated over 2000 hours and 270 shipboard landings in 24 aircraft models including all F-35 variants, F/A-18, AV-8B, JAS-39, and MIG-15.