LtCol Woods is a native of Milwaukee, WI. He attended recruit training at MCRD San Diego during the summer of 2001. Following completion of Marine Combat Training, he attended and graduated from Helicopter/ Tiltrotor Dynamic Component Mechanics course at MCAS New River.
In the spring of 2002, he was assigned to MALS-16 at MCAS Miramar, CA where he performed Intermediate Level maintenance in support of CH-53, CH-46, UH-1N, and AH-1W helicopters. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January to September of 2003. Upon return from deployment, was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and subsequently accepted for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program.
He attended San Diego State University (SDSU) and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Japanese from SDSU in 2009.
2ndLt Woods reported to The Basic School in June 2009 as a member of Fox Company. After TBS, 2ndLt Woods completed initial naval flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL. He graduated primary from NAS Corpus Christi, TX, and in Dec 2012, received his wings at NAS Meridian. Following his winging, Captain Woods completed AV-8B training with VMAT-203 and subsequently assigned to VMA-214 aboard MCAS Yuma, AZ in February 2014.
Captain Woods served as the Powerline OIC, Airframes OIC, and FOPS Officer while in the Black Sheep and from November 2015 to June 2016 completed a UDP to Japan. He completed his Weapon Training Officer certification and became an Aviation Safety Officer upon return from deployment.
Captain Woods then attended resident Expeditionary Warfare School and moved to Quantico, VA for the 10-month course before returning to VMA-214 in May of 2018, where he served as the Department of Standardization and Safety and promoted to Major.
Major Woods took over as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer in November of 2019. With upcoming squadron tasking as the Immediate Ready Force (IRF), he and his leadership team transformed the maintenance department into the highest performing squadron in TACAIR and only dropped one scheduled sortie over a 10-month period as the squadron executed a combat deployment to Saudi Arabia. The Black Sheep received the Sanderson Award for Top Attack Squadron in the Marine Corps for their efforts that year.
In October 2020, he moved over to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Yuma where he served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer. He attained his Aircraft Commander and Multi-Engine Instructor Designations in the UC-12F aircraft before taking orders to VMFAT-501 for conversion to the F-35 in March 2022.
Major Woods completed his conversion to the F-35B, Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor Pilot, and Air Combat Maneuvering Instructor Qualifications before transferring to the MAG-31 Operations Officer Billet and promoting to his current rank in October 2024.
Lieutenant Colonel Woods reported to VMFA-224 to take over his current role of Executive Officer in September 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Woods’ personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), Good Conduct Medal (2).