Col. Drieslein assumed command of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Aug. 15, 2025.
A native of Trempealeau, Wisconsin, Drieslein graduated from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, in January 2002. He was commissioned a second lieutenant upon completion of Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in March 2003 and was designated a naval aviator at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas in August 2004. He has completed specialized pilot training for the KC-130, and multiple deployments, and held various aviation, staff, command, and joint assignments, including assignments as squadron commanding officer, squadron weapons and tactics instructor, maintenance officer, and quality assurance officer. He also holds two master’s degrees in military studies and international public policy, from Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and The John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), respectively.
In August 2004, he reported to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Training Squadron (VMGRT) 253, the “Titans” at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina where he completed Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) School in Brunswick, Maine and began KC-130 (Legacy) training and was designated a transport third pilot in the KC-130F/R. Upon completion of KC-130 training in June 2005, he was assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 352, the “Raiders” for KC-130J transition training where he was designated a transport third pilot in the KC-130J, in February 2006. During that tour, he completed the KC-130J aircraft commander upgrade syllabus and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In August 2008, he reported to II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (2nd ANGLICO), Camp Lejeune, N.C. In preparation for deployment, he completed the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) school in Coronado, California, the Fire Support Coordination Center Course in Norfolk, Virginia, followed by the Air Officer Course in Yuma, Arizona. In June 2009, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Supporting Arms Liaison Team leader in support of the British, Welsh and Grenadier Guards. In May 2010, he was assigned to VMGR-252, “Team Otis,” aboard MCAS Cherry Point, where he served as the quality assurance officer, assistant operations officer, and assistant maintenance officer. He deployed in support of Operation Unified Protector in 2011, and in 2013 deployed on the first Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF) as the VMGR Detachment officer-in-charge. From May 2010 to May 2013, he served as a Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) instructor, Fleet Replacement Standardization instructor, and completed the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-11.
In June 2014, he reported to Marine Aviation Training Support Site at MCAS Cherry Point, where he served as the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing KC-130J Flight Leadership (FLSE) Program coordinator. In January 2016 he reported back to VMGR-252 where he led a seven-month, four-plane, 87-Marine detachment in support of SPMAGTF-CR-AF, and upon his return completed his tour as the VMGR-252 maintenance officer.
From 2017-2020, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation where he served as the KC-130/OSA Requirements officer (APW-61) and in January 2020, reported to Marine Aircraft Group (MAG-14), “America’s MAG,” where he commanded VMGR-252 from May 2020 to January 2022. In July 2022, Lt. Col. Drieslein served as a student fellow at SAIS in Washington, D.C. where he earned a master’s in international public policy. In July 2023, he reported to the Joint Staff, Strategy, Plans, and Policy Directorate, or J5, where he served as the Global Integration Division chief and completed the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Professional Military Education - Phase II in Norfolk.
The colonel’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Medal Strike/Flight with numeral three, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and the Combat Distinguishing Device, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He has more than 2,600 flight hours in the KC-130J, of which 288 are combat hours, and more than 2,900 total flight hours.