Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie (“Mack”) “IKE” White was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May 2007, after graduating from the United States Naval Academy with distinction, earning a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. Following graduation, he reported to 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines in Philadelphia, PA, and the University of Pennsylvania to study robotics at the GRASP Robotics Laboratory. There, he received the John J. McMullen Fellowship and was promoted to First Lieutenant while earning a Master of Science in Engineering in Robotics.
First Lieutenant White reported to Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, to attend The Basic School (TBS) in September 2009. He completed TBS with Golf Company, earning distinction on the Commanding General’s Honor Roll. In April 2010, First Lieutenant White reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL, for flight training before completing primary and advanced helicopter training aboard NAS Whiting Field. He was promoted to Captain in June 2011 and designated as a Naval Aviator in July. He was later recognized with the CNATRA Pilot Honor Award as the top Navy or Marine graduate in 2011. He reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton for initial training in the AH-1Z.
In June 2012, Captain White reported to the Stingers of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267 and served as the Assistant Admin Officer. During this time, HMLA-267 was the first squadron to operate the AH-1Z and UH-1Y solely. In 2014, Captain White joined Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced) as the AH-1 NATOPS Officer for deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. During this tour, Captain White completed the Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Education Program as a distinguished graduate. During the deployment, the H-1 detachment cross-decked between the LPD (USS San Diego) and LHD (USS Makin Island) several times, demonstrating the expeditionary capabilities of the H-1 detachment.
Returning to HMLA-267 in 2015, Captain White served as an Airframes and Current Operations Officer. He graduated from Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-16 and assumed the AH-1 Pilot Training Officer duties. The Stingers deployed to Okinawa in the fall of 2016 as the first Unit Deployment Program squadron with the AH-1Z. He was promoted to Major prior to detaching in June 2017.
In June 2017, Major White reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) as an AH-1Z Instructor Pilot. He worked as a subject matter expert on HMLA sea-based operations, cockpit interface and tactics development for the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile, and aviation training management. Major White completed the Marine Command and Staff College Distance Education Program during this tour. While serving with MAWTS-1, he held the billets of AH-1 Division Operations Representative, MAWTS-1 Assistant Operations Officer, and AH-1 Division Head.
Major White reported to the Warriors of HMLA-167 in June of 2020 and held the positions of Assistant Operations Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer. In January 2022, Major White transitioned to the Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 29 staff and served as the Assistant Operations Officer.
In May 2022, Major White reported to MAG-26 to serve as the Operations Officer and was promoted to his current rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Lieutenant Colonel White was selected for command of VMM-365 and began MV-22 transition training in September 2023, completing it in June 2024 while also serving as the MAG-26 Executive Officer. He assumed command of the Blue Knights in February of 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel White has logged over 2,000 mishap-free flight hours in aircraft including the AH-1Z, AH-6M, Mi-24, F/A-18D, and MV-22. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars.