Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson is a native of Washington. He attended Officer Candidate School’s Platoon Leader’s Course, graduating in July 2007, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February 2008. After completion of The Basic School, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson attended flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas and Pensacola, Florida and was designated a Naval Aviator in September 2010. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson reported to HMLAT-303 at Camp Pendleton, California for training as a UH-1N pilot.
In May 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson received orders to MAG-29 where he was assigned to the “Gunrunners” of HMLA-269 and was the final USMC UH-1N Pilot to check into a fleet squadron. During this tour, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson spent time in all three East Coast HMLA Squadrons.
In December 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson deployed on the 31st MEU with the “Dragons” of HMM-265 (Rein). Following the deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson rejoined HMLA-269 and transitioned to the UH-1Y.
In February 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson joined the “Sabers” of HMLA-467 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) 14.1 and 14.2. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson returned in September 2014 and received orders back to HMLA-269.
In March 2015, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor’s (WTI) Course. Immediately following WTI, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson deployed with HMLA-269 in support of an Indo-PACOM Unit Deployment Program (UDP) rotation to Okinawa, Japan from May 2015 to November 2015. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson served as the Assistant Operations Officer and later as the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer.
In September 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson received orders to Marine Special Operations Company Hotel (MSOC-H), 2D Marine Raider Battalion, to serve as the company Air / Fires Officer. He attended multiple schools and training exercises and deployed with MSOC-H to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) serving as the Air / Fires Officer for Special Operations Task Force – North.
In September 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson received orders to Marine Helicopter Squadron One. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson flew multiple missions as the aircraft commander during Presidential and Vice-Presidential missions and attained the designation of Marine One Pilot.
In April 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson received orders to the “Vipers” of HMLA-169 where he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer from July 2022 to January 2023. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson served as the Executive Officer from January 2023 to December 2023 and deployed with HMLA-169 to Okinawa, Japan from April 2023 to October 2023 in support of an Indo-PACOM UDP.
In January 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson reported to MAG-29 and served as the HMLA-269 Transition and Activation Officer in Charge.
Lieutenant Colonel Gilbertson’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, Strike/Flight Air Medal with Bronze Numeral 2, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award.