COLONEL ERIC K. “RIPPER” FIPPINGER

Colonel Fippinger received a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography from the Naval Academy and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 23 May 1984. After TBS and flight school, Colonel Fippinger did his Initial F/A‐18 training at VFA‐125 in Lemoore, California. His first operational squadron was the Beaufort, South Carolina based VMFA‐251 Thunderbolts.

During a four year tour with the Thunderbolts, Fippinger held positions as Airframes Officer, NATOPS Officer and Quality Assurance Officer. The unit deployed twice to the Western Pacific and he was promoted to Captain. Between the WESTPAC deployments, Colonel Fippinger deployed with 4th MEB as the Fixed Wing Frag Officer while embarked aboard the USS Iwo Jima in Support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. In 1992 he was selected for Amphibious Warfare School (AWS) and moved to Quantico, .

Upon completion of AWS, Colonel Fippinger returned to VMFA‐251 in Beaufort. From July 1993 to March 1996, he attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course, the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), and deployed twice to the Mediterranean. The first deployment was land based at Aviano, Italy while the second was aboard USS America with Carrier Air Group One. He participated in combat and contingency flights in support of Operation DELIBERATE FORCE over Bosnia‐ Herzegovina and over Iraq and filled billets as Pilot Training Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. He was promoted to Major in 1995 during the America cruise.

His next assignment was to MCAS Miramar as a TOPGUN Instructor Pilot. From 1996 to 1999 he held a variety of Field Grade billets at TOPGUN before being transferred to the at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California to spend a year as the 5th Marines Regimental Air Officer. In January 1999 he was transferred to 3d Marine Aircraft Wing (3d MAW) at MCAS Miramar.

Colonel Fippinger’s next squadron tour was with the VMFA(AW)‐225 Vikings as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer flying F/A‐18D model Hornets. During his tour, Colonel Fippinger was selected for Lieutenant Colonel and the Vikings completed a six month deployment to the Western Pacific. Near the end of the deployment Colonel Fippinger was slated for command of VFMAT‐101 and shortly thereafter, transferred to 3d MAW, G‐5 Plans to serve as CENTCOM Plans Officer while awaiting his command. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in November 2000.

During his tour in the G‐5 from 2000 to 2002, Colonel Fippinger worked on contingency plans and traveled throughout the Middle East. After 9/11, he deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as Marine Liaison to the Air Force Joint Force Air Component Commander during the opening phases of the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

From June 2002 to February 2004, Colonel Fippinger commanded the VMFAT‐101 Sharpshooters at MCAS Miramar. This squadron is the largest fixed wing unit in the Corps and charged with the mission of training new F/A‐18 pilots and WSOs. Immediately after this tour he did a short deployment to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, serving in the Al Anbar Provence as part of the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Fusion Cell.

From August 2004 to June 2007, Colonel Fippinger served in Washington, DC. He spent the first year attending the National War College at Fort McNair studying National Security Strategy and the next two in the Pentagon serving on the Joint Staff in the J‐8 Directorate, Studies, Analysis and Gaming Division. He was promoted to Colonel in July 2006.

In July 2007, Colonel Fippinger assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 11. While in command, he was responsible for the deployment of numerous squadrons and detachments in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, as well as aboard carriers and to Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program. For a period of 14 months, Marine Aircraft Group 11 assumed control of Marine Aircraft Group 16 remain behind squadrons to form Marine Aircraft Group 11 (Reinforced). At its peak, MAG‐11 (REIN) contained 18 squadrons and over 7,000 Marines and Sailors.

In July 2009, Colonel Fippinger relinquished command of MAG‐11 and assumed duties as the Chief of Staff, 3d MAW. He held this position until January 2010 when he was designated Deputy Commander, 3d MAW (FWD) and began preparations to deploy to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He deployed to Afghanistan’s Helmand Province in the RC(SW) area of operations from March 2010 to March 2011 and flew combat missions with 3dMAW(FWD)’s F/A‐18 squadrons based in Kandahar.

His current assignment is in Coronado, CA serving as Senior Marine on the staff of Commander Naval Air Forces.

Colonel Fippinger is married to Leslie Fippinger and has two children; Rachel (19) and Scott (17). He lives in Rancho Bernardo, CA.

Colonel Fippinger’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Strike/Flight Air Medal with Bronze Star and numeral 1, Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, and Navy Achievement Medal with one Gold Star. He has accrued more than 4,300 accident free flight hours.