Biography
Lieutenant Colonel Trong M. Do
VMM-262 Commanding Officer

As son of a South Vietnamese immigrant, Lieutenant Colonel Trong Do grew up in the rural town of Bangor, Pennsylvania.  He attended Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in Management Information Systems. He was commissioned through Platoon Leader’s Course in May 2002. Over the next two years, Lieutenant Colonel Do began his initial Marine Corps and aviation training and was designated a naval aviator in February 2004. He attended replacement aircrew training at Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164), Camp Pendleton and received the designation of CH-46E pilot. From there, he moved to the East Coast to join his first fleet unit, HMM-261 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River.

Upon joining the “Raging Bulls” of HMM-261, Lieutenant Colonel Do was assigned to operations as a schedule writer and Ground Training Officer. He quickly deployed as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aviation combat element. As a part of that MEU deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Do deployed to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in 2005. Upon returning from that deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Do remained in operations and deployed again with HMM-261 (REIN) on as part of the 22nd MEU. 

As the Marine Corps’ tiltrotor transition began, Lieutenant Colonel Do remained with the “Raging Bulls” to transition the squadron from a CH-46E squadron to the MV-22B squadron. During his time at VMM-261, Lieutenant Colonel Do was assigned as the Airframes Division Officer and Pilot Training Officer (PTO).  He deployed with Marine Medium Tiltorotor Squadron 261 (VMM-261) to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan for the squadron’s inaugural combat deployment in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.  Returning from that deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Do attended Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Base Quantico and transferred to the West Coast.

Lieutenant Colonel Do joined the “White Knights” of VMM-165 in June 2011 to assist in their stand up as a tiltrotor squadron. During his time there he attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course and served as the PTO, Assistant Operations Officer, Director of Safety and Standardization, and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. He deployed again to Camp Bastion with VMM-165 in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. After that deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Do was invited to serve at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1).

In July 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Do reported to MAWTS-1, MCAS Yuma. During his tour there, Lieutenant Colonel Do served as the Academics Department Head, Assault Support Tactics 2 evolution coordinator, MV-22B Air Naval Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures model manager, Aviation Casualty Evacuation subject matter expert (SME), MV-22B Ground Threat Reaction SME, MV-22 Battlefield Illumination SME, MV-22 Night Systems SME, and MV-22B Alternate Insertion and Extraction SME. At the end of his tour at MAWTS-1, Lieutenant Colonel Do was selected for intermediate level school.

From 2017-2019, Lieutenant Colonel Do attended the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Command and Staff College (ASCS) and USAF School of Advanced Aviation and Space Studies (SAASS), both in Maxwell Airforce Base in Montgomery, Alabama. He was a distinguished graduate from ASCS receiving a Master of Military Operation Art and Science degree. He continued his advanced-intermediate level education at SAASS and completed his thesis on the Sino-Indian Conflict to receive a Master of Philosophy in Strategy degree and designation at as Marine Aviation Ground Task Force (MAGTF) planner.

In July 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Do was assigned to United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) and served within the G-35 as a planner and Future Operations Branch Head. It was during this time that he led MARFORPAC’s planning for implementation of the 38th Commandant’s Planning Guidance and response to the COVID-19 outbreak. While serving at MARFORPAC, he was also selected for command and transferred to the “War Eagles” of Marine Aircraft Group 36 in January 2021 to serve as the Operations Officer prior to taking command.

Lieutenant Colonel Do’s personnel awards include Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Air Medal Strike/Flight Medal with numeral 6, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal.