Lieutenant Colonel Chirhart attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on 23 May 2008.
Following flight school, First Lieutenant Chirhart reported to HMLA(T)-303 in Camp Pendleton, CA, for UH-1Y training. He then joined HMLA-367 “Scarface” as the Ground Safety and NATOPS Officer and later moved to HMLA-267 “Stingers,” where he served as a schedule writer and Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Officer.
In February 2013, Captain Chirhart deployed to Isa Air Base, Bahrain with MAG-50, MWHS-3 as the Senior Watch Officer and Personnel Recovery Coordinator. Upon returning, he served as the UH-1Y Pilot Training Officer and deployed to Okinawa, Japan, in November 2016 as part of the Unit Deployment Program, flying over 220 hours. In May 2017, Captain Chirhart transferred to VMX-1 in Yuma, Arizona, serving as the Airframes Division Officer. There, he supported multiple test and evaluation projects and augmented WTI courses as a UH-1Y instructor.
In 2019, Major Chirhart transitioned to the 7315 UAS Officer MOS and was assigned to VMU-1, where he served as Aircraft Maintenance Officer, MQ-9A Department Head, and Operations Officer. In April 2021, he graduated MQ-9A training at Holloman AFB, earning the 7318 MOS, and returned to VMU-1 as Executive Officer and received qualifications as an MQ-9A Weapons Training Officer supporting VMU-1’s operations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
In May 2022, Major Chirhart reported to HQMC’s Capabilities Development Directorate, where he served as the Senior UAS Capabilities Integration Officer in the Air Vehicle Requirements Branch. While at CDD, he authored multiple CONOPS, conducted capability development analysis, and founded the Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems (IRAS) Office to align emerging technologies with Marine Corps needs.
Lieutenant Colonel Chirhart is a native of Anchorage, Alaska, and a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Command and Staff College, and New England College, where he earned an MBA in Strategic Leadership. He holds an FAA commercial pilot certification in rotary and a fixed wing aircraft, and a Part 107 small UAS license, with over 1,870 hours in the T-34C, TH-57B/C, UH-1Y, RQ-21A, and MQ-9A. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He was promoted to his current rank in March 2024.