Lieutenant Colonel Staffenson, a native of Newport, Oregon, began his career by enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1998. Following recruit training, he served as a Motor Transport Operator with
Charlie Company, 4th Tank Battalion. While a Reservist, he attended Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, graduating in 2002.
After being honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal in 2003, he entered the civilian sector before returning to service. In 2008 he attended Officer Candidate School and was
commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. After completing The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia, he was then assigned to NAS Pensacola, Florida and designated a Naval
Aviator in November 2010.
After receiving his wings, First Lieutenant Staffenson reported to HMLAT-303 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California for initial training in the AH-1W. In June 2011, he reported to
HMLA-169 and deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (12.2-13.1). During his time with HMLA-169 he served as the S-5 officer.
In the fall of 2013, Captain Staffenson was assigned to 3rd Battalion 5th Marines as a Forward Air Controller in the Air Shop assigned to Kilo Company. He deployed with 3/5 to Okinawa as
part of the 31st MEU and participated in many joint and combined exercises. In January of 2015 he received orders to HMLA-367 aboard MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI. He again deployed to the 31st
MEU as a detachment in support of VMM-262 and served in both units as the Tactics Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, Current Operations Officer, and AH Pilot Training Officer. In 2017, he
attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course and was designated an AH-1W WTI. Additionally, he converted from the AH-1W to the AH-1Z, regaining all previous qualifications and designations in the new airframe.
In the winter of 2018, Major Staffenson joined the US INDO-PACOM J35 staff at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii as part of Deployable Joint Force Augmentation Cell, supporting multiple
exercises in Tahiti, Fiji, Japan, as well as Hawaii. With his time complete in Hawaii, Major Staffenson joined HMLA-269 in the summer of 2021 where he served as the Director of Safety
and Standardization, Aviation Maintenance Officer and Executive Officer participating in Exercises Cold Response Norway and Jaded Thunder.
Following his time at HMLA-269, Major Staffenson was assigned to the College of Distance and Education in Okinawa Japan as the EWS Blended Instructor beginning in the summer of 2023
and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel the following fall. While instructing, LtCol Staffenson flew the UC-35 in support of MCAS Futenma operations. Upon selection of Command, LtCol
Staffenson began training in the MV-22B in preparation for squadron command of VMM-262 and was assigned to MAG-36.
Lieutenant Colonel Staffenson has accumulated over 2200 flight hours, primarily in the AH-1W, AH-1Z, UC-35, and MV-22B aircraft. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 5, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars.
Lieutenant Colonel Staffenson is married to the former Megan Grigory of Newport, Oregon. They have three children - Max (16 years old), Luke (14 years old), and Emery Jean (11 years
old).