Lieutenant Colonel Spencer S. Waters, from Knoxville, TN, is a 2009 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a commission in the Marine Corps. Following commissioning, Lieutenant Colonel Waters attended The Basic School in Quantico, VA, served briefly aboard VMFAT-501, attended multiple naval flight schools in Florida and Mississippi, and then reported to MCAS Cherry Point, NC, where he obtained his initial qualification on the AV-8B Harrier.
Lieutenant Colonel Waters’s operational assignments include multiple assignments with Marine Attack Squadron 231, serving in various squadron billets such as Airframes, Aviation Life Support Systems, and NATOPS officer, including a deployment with VMM-365 (REIN) on the USS Iwo Jima for the 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit. After the deployment, he briefly served aboard MAG-14 and attended the Naval Aviation Safety Officer Course. Upon returning to the VMA-231, Lieutenant Colonel Waters deployed to support Operation INHERENT RESOLVE SPMAGTF-CR-CC, serving as the Director of Safety and Standardization.
In addition to these operational assignments, Lieutenant Colonel Waters completed Tactical Air Control Party school and served with 2d Tank Battalion as a Forward Air Controller and Battalion Air Officer aboard Camp Lejeune, NC. As an Air Officer, he assisted in developing tactics for integrating mechanized assets with emerging small Unmanned Aerial Systems technologies. Lieutenant Colonel Waters returned to MAG-14 and was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 542 and attained multiple qualifications in preparation for the MAWTS-1 Weapons Tactics Instructor course to serve as Pilot Training Officer and Operations Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Waters’s non-operational assignments include serving as the AV-8B, F-5 Adversary, and Contracted Air Requirements Officer for the Air Warfare Systems TACAIR, as well as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation. In 2025, after initial F-35B training with VMFAT-501, Lieutenant Colonel Waters returned to MAG-14 and currently serves as the Officer in Charge of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231.
Lieutenant Colonel Waters earned a Master of Arts in Military Studies from the Marine Corps University, graduating with distinction from Command and Staff College, and is a distinguished graduate of the Marine Corps’ Distant Expeditionary Warfare School.
His personal achievements include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (numeral 4), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.