Lieutenant Colonel Lee W. Hemming is a native of North Carolina. He is a 1999 graduate of Gettysburg College with a degree in Business Management and Economics. Following graduation from Gettysburg College, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming attended the Officer Candidate Course (OCC) and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August of 2001. After his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant he was assigned to Fox Company at The Basic School. Upon completion of The Basic School in March of 2002, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming then graduated from the Infantry Officer Course 4-02.
Following graduation from the Infantry Officer Course, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in December 2003. After receiving his wings, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming reported to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California for initial training in the AH-1W “Super Cobra”.
In May 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 (HML/A-269). While at HML/A-269, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming deployed three times to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Lieutenant Colonel Hemming attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-07. While at HML/A-269, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming served in the S5 and numerous billets within the Operations Department.
After three combat tours to OIF, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming left HML/A-269 in 2008 and assisted in the activation of the Sabers (HMLA-467). During his time at the Sabers, he worked as the AH-1W Pilot Training Officer and the Assistant Operations Officer.
From 2009 through 2012 Lieutenant Colonel Hemming served as an instructor at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-One (MAWTS-1). Lieutenant Colonel Hemming served all three years in the AH-1W Division and served as the Division Head during his final year.
Following his tour at MAWTS-1, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, VA where he earned a Masters of Military Studies and was a distinguished graduate. After graduation Lieutenant Colonel Hemming received orders back to the Sabers of HMLA-467.
From 2013 to 2016 Lieutenant Colonel Hemming served with HMLA-467 as the Assistant Operations Officer, the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, and the Aircraft Maintenance Officer. In 2014 Major Hemming deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where the Sabers supported Regional Command-Southwest (RC-SW) in combat operations and ultimately assisting in the withdrawal of Marine forces from Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In May of 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming flew in the final flight of the Sabers before the squadron was decommissioned.
After the decommissioning of HMLA-467, Lieutenant Colonel Hemming was assigned to Marine Special Operations Forces Command (MARSOC) in Stone Bay, NC. During his time at MARSOC he served in the G-3 Air/Fires section as the Assistant Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Program Manager and one of MARSOC’s JTAC Evaluators. In May of 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Hemming returned to MAG-29 for follow-on assignment as the Commanding Officer of HMLA-167.
Lieutenant Colonel Hemming’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with numeral “1” for individual action and Strike/Flight numeral “16”, , Navy Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of fourth award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.