Major Philip E. Eilertson
Executive Officer, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, MCAS New River

Major Eilertson graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1996 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program. Following graduation from The Basic School in July 1997 and the Infantry Officer Course in November 1997, he was assigned to flight training in Pensacola, Florida. He was winged as a Naval Aviator in December 1999, at which time he reported to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Camp Pendleton, California for initial training in the AH-1W in January 1999.

In June of 1999, First Lieutenant Eilertson completed AH-1W pilot training at Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 and received orders to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369. His first fleet assignment went from June 2000 to June 2006. During this tour, he deployed with HMM-165, attached to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from December 2001 to July 2002, flying combat missions in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda, March 2002. In April 2003, Captain Eilertson deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) I. Upon return from OIF I, he deployed in December 2003 as part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to Okinawa, Japan until July 2004. Captain Eilertson then attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course at MAWTS-1 in September 2004. Following WTI he deployed again to conduct combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2005 to April 2006. While at HMLA-369 Captain Eilertson served in a variety of billets in the Operations, Tactics, and Maintenance departments, as well as the Legal Officer.

In July of 2006, Captain Eilertson reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, Arizona to serve as an AH-1W Instructor Pilot. He was promoted to his current rank on 1 February 2007. In addition to serving in the MAWTS-1 AH-1W Division as the Operations representative, Major Eilertson was the Final Exercise (FINEX) coordinator for the WTI course. He was assigned as the AH-1W Division Head during his last year at MAWTS-1.

Major Eilertson completed his tour at MAWTS-1 in July 2009 and subsequently attended the Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island, where he graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

In July 2010, Major Eilertson returned to the fleet and reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, serving as the Operations officer from August 2010 to September 2011, before assuming his current duty as the Executive Officer.

His personal decorations include the Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 17, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star.