LtCol Perlin is from Lake Arrowhead, CA and attended The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and History in May 2004. Upon commissioning, 2ndLt Perlin attended the Basic School and flight school. He was designated a Naval Aviator in April 2007.
After completing initial AV8B training in VMAT-203, aboard MCAS Cherry Point, NC in April 2008, he joined the “Nightmares” of VMA-513 in Yuma, AZ. During his initial tour, Captain Perlin served as the Powerline OIC, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Quality Assurance Officer. He deployed to the Western Pacific in 2009/2010 as part of the Unit Deployment Program.
In April of 2011, Captain Perlin received orders to 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (1st ANGLICO) aboard Camp Pendleton, CA. While with 1st ANGLICO, Captain Perlin served with the 11th MEU as the Maritime Raid Force Executive Officer and Forward Air Controller. He filled this billet during the MEU’s deployment to both PACOM and CENTCOM AORs in support of anti-piracy and maritime interdiction operations.
Upon returning from the MEU in the summer of 2012, Captain Perlin was selected to transition to the F-35B. He reported to the “Green Knights” of VMFA-121 to assist in the standup of the Marine Corps’ first operational F-35B squadron. While there, Captain Perlin served as the Airframes, Flight Equipment, and Seat Shop OIC, the S-1 Administration and Legal Officer, and the S-4 Supply Officer. As a Major, he served as Director of Safety and Standardization, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Executive Officer, and Detachment OIC. In 2015, he served as the S-1 and S-4 OIC for LHD Operational Test Period 1. In January 2017, Major Perlin coordinated the maintenance support for the first Trans-Pacific movement of the F-35B as VMFA-121 PCS’d as a squadron from Yuma, AZ to Iwakuni, Japan.
In January 2019, Major Perlin reported to the “Warlords” of VMFAT-501 – the F-35B Fleet Replacement Squadron. While there, he served as the Chief Instructor Pilot and then Operations Officer as he oversaw the squadron’s 25% increase in Pilot Training Requirements (PTR) and 22% increase in flight hours. In the summer of 2020, Major Perlin transferred to Marine Aviation Training System Site Beaufort where he served as the F-35B Pilot Training Center OIC. In this billet, he continued to provide support to VMFAT-501 and assisted in the standup of the “Nightmares” of VMFAT-502 – the Marine Corps’ second Fleet Replacement Squadron. He was promoted to his current rank in October of 2020.
LtCol Perlin reported to Marine Aircraft Group 12 in July 2022 and assumed the role of MAG-12 Headquarters Personnel Detachment CO while he waited to take command of VMFA-121.
LtCol Perlin has accumulated over 1,900 mishap free flight hours, has a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University and his personal decorations include: (1) Meritorious Service Medal, (3) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and (2) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. LtCol Perlin is married to the former Katharine Kreps, and they have three children together; James Landon and Lillian Denise, twins born in June 2012; and Annie Patricia, born in August 2014.