Major Drew Hess is a native of Rockford, Illinois
and graduated from Guilford High School in 1991. Upon graduation, Drew attended the University of Iowa for one semester
before transferring to the University of Illinois. He graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and
earned his Aviation Mechanics License. While in high school and college, Drew participated in swimming and competitive
water-skiing where he and his water-ski team won numerous state championships and a national championship in 1991.
Drew was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) program in 1996 and reported to The Basic School (TBS) in
Quantico, Virginia. Upon completion, he reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida to begin primary flight
training in theT-34C Turbo Mentor. In December 1998, Drew reported to Training Squadron 31 (VT-31) at NAS Corpus Christi,
Texas to fly the TC-12 Huron. He received his wings of gold in July 1999.
In August 1999, Drew reported to Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Training Squadron 253 (VMGRT-253) at Marine Corps Air Station
(MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina to begin training in the KC-130. He then reported to his first fleet squadron, Marine Aerial
Refueling Transport Squadron (VMGR-352), the “Raiders,” at MCAS Miramar, California in June 2000. While with the “Raiders,”
Drew served as the Logistics Officer and the Powerline Division Officer. During this tour, Drew deployed to Pakistan and Bahrain in
support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Following his first fleet tour, Drew reported to VMGR-152, the “Sumos,” at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan in February 2004. While assigned
to the “Sumos,” Drew served as the Aviation Safety Officer, Aircrew Training Officer and Naval Air Training and Operation Procedures
Standardization (NATOPS) Evaluator. Drew’s next assignment came in December 2005 as the Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF)
Tactical Exercise Control Group (TECG) Air Officer. During his time in the fleet, Drew flew more than 250 combat hours. Additionally,
Drew flew numerous operations and exercises in Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Thailand, the Philippines, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
South Korea, Guam, Wake Island, American Samoa, Iwo Jima, Australia, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Italy, Greece, Afghanistan,
Kuwait, and Iraq.
Drew joined the Blue Angels in September 2006. He has accumulated more than 2,700 flight hours. His decorations include five Air Medals,
the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal and unit awards.
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