Major Jeffrey D. Specht is a native of Justin, Texas. He commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in
May 2015 after graduating from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Logistics and a minor in
Communications.
Following his commissioning, Second Lieutenant Specht attended The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. He subsequently completed
Introductory Flight Screening and Aviation Preflight Indoctrination at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, before reporting to Naval
Air Station Whiting Field, Florida, for Primary Flight Training, where he flew the T-6B Texan II.
In March 2017, Second Lieutenant Specht reported to Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, for Intermediate and Advanced Flight
Training in the T-45 Goshawk with Training Squadron NINE (VT-9). He earned his designation as a Naval Aviator in May 2019. Upon
designation, First Lieutenant Specht was assigned to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 (VMAT-203) at Marine Corps Air Station
Cherry Point, North Carolina, for training in the AV-8B Harrier. He was promoted to Captain in July 2020.
Captain Specht's first operational assignment was with Marine Attack Squadron 223 (VMA-223) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry
Point, where he served as the Current Operations Officer, Future Operations Officer, and Powerline Division Officer-in-Charge. During
his tour with the “Bulldogs,” he accumulated over 400 mishap-free flight hours and participated in NATO Exercise COLD
RESPONSE 22 in Bodø, Norway.
From May 2022 to May 2023, Captain Specht served as the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Aircraft
Wing.
Following his tour as an Aide-de-Camp, Captain Specht was selected to transition to the F-35B Lightning II. He completed the
conversion syllabus with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 502 (VMFAT-502) in June 2024 and subsequently received orders
to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 (VMFA-242) in Iwakuni, Japan. While assigned to the “Bats,” he was promoted to Major
and has participated in Exercises RESOLUTE DRAGON, KEEN SWORD, and TALISMAN SABRE, and deployed with the 31st
Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of patrols 25.1 and 25.2.
Major Specht previously served as the squadron Aviation Maintenance Officer and currently serves as the Executive Officer for
VMFA-242.