Lieutenant Colonel Lynn Larson is a native of Texas. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in May 2008. After commissioning as a Second Lieutenant, he reported to Fox Company at The Basic School.
Following graduation from The Basic School, LtCol Larson reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in April 2011. After receiving his wings, LtCol Larson reported to HMLAT-303 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California for initial training in the AH-1W Super Cobra.
In February 2012, LtCol Larson reported to HMLA-467 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. While at HMLA-467, LtCol Larson deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and graduated from Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-16. While at HMLA-467, LtCol Larson served in the S5, maintenance department, and numerous billets within the operations department.
From December 2015 to February 2017, LtCol Larson joined VMM-264 (Reinforced) in support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. During his time with the “Black Knights,” LtCol Larson served as a Future Operations Planner, Pilot Training Officer, and HMLA detachment Operations Officer. While attached to the 22nd MEU, Maj Larson participated in Operation Odyssey Lightning and supported coalition forces in Sirte, Libya with rotary-wing close air support. Upon redeployment, LtCol Larson served in the Tactics Division of HMLA-269.
From 2017 through 2020, LtCol Larson served as an instructor at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-One (MAWTS-1) aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. At MAWTS-1, LtCol Larson transitioned to the AH-1Z Viper while serving in the AH-1 Division and as the squadron Standardization Officer.
LtCol Larson attended the United States Army Command and General Staff Officer’s Course from 2020 to 2021 where he graduated with distinction and earned a Master of Operations Studies degree while also earning a Master of Science degree in Project Management from the University of Kansas.
In July of 2021 LtCol Larson reported to HMLA-267 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton where he served as the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and Executive Officer while supporting Unit Deployment Program 23.1 to Okinawa, Japan and then served as the MAG-39 Executive Officer from March to June of 2024. LtCol Larson next served as the Capabilities Integration Officer for Future Attack/Strike and Aviation Weapons in the Capabilities Development Directorate aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico before returning to MAG-29 in the summer of 2025.
LtCol Larson’s personal decorations include the Air Medal with individual action numeral “1” and strike numeral “5” and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four Gold Stars.