LtCol Paul Gucwa was raised in Cleveland Ohio, received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Saint Louis University, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 2009. Upon completion of The Basic School in September 2010, he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in April 2013.
After receiving his wings, LtCol Gucwa reported to Marine Attack Training Squadron Two Zero Three (VMAT-203) the “Hawks,” for initial training in the AV-8B Harrier. He was promoted to Captain in October 2013 and then assigned to Marine Attack Squadron Two One One (VMA-211) the “Avengers,” at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma in May 2014. He deployed with VMA-211 as a member of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command 15.1 (SPMAGTF 15.1) to Isa Air Base, Bahrain where he flew missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from October 2014 to April 2015. While with VMA-211, he served as the Current Operations Officer, and the Assistance Operations Officer.
LtCol Gucwa then reported to Marine Attack Squadron Three One One (VMA-311) the “Tomcats,” at MCAS Yuma in June 2016. He initially served as the squadron’s Logistics Officer and deployed to the western Pacific as a member of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from January to August 2017. In spring 2018 he attended Marine Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course. Upon completion, he continued to serve in VMA-311 as the Pilot Training Officer and Squadron WTI. He once again deployed to Isa Air Base Bahrain as a member of SPMAGTF-CR-CC 19.2 flying missions in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom Sentinel, and the Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf from April to October 2019. He was promoted to Major in September 2019 while a member of VMA-311.
In January 2020 LtCol Gucwa attended United States Navy Test Pilot School and graduated with Class 158 in January 2021. He then reported to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23) where he served as a Developmental Test Pilot on all variants of F-35 and F/A-18 aircraft. He was the Project Officer and Detachment OIC for the United Kingdom’s F-35B Queen Elizabeth Class, First of Class Flight Trials, Developmental Test III aboard the HMS Prince of Wales in October 2023 where he acted as the lead test pilot flying and evaluating Shipboard Rolling Vertical Landings.
LtCol Gucwa reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron Five Three Three (VMFA-533) the “Hawks,” in December 2023 where he has served as the Operations Officer, currently serves as the Executive Officer, and was promoted to LtCol in May 2025.
LtCol Gucwa is a graduate of non-resident Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and has a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Naval Post Graduate School. He has accumulated more than 1900 total flight hours in 28 different military aircraft, primarily in the AV-8B, F-35, and F/A-18 platforms. His personal decorations include the Air Strike/Flight Medal with Numeral ‘6,’ the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.