An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Lieutenant Colonel Enrico Landas

Lt. Col. Enrico “Rico” Landas, a native of Alameda, California, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2001. Following boot camp, combat training and training as a combat engineer, he was accepted into the NROTC program. He graduated in 2007 from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He graduated from Naval Postgraduate School in 2016 with a Master of Science in Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation.

Following Basic School and additional training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, he attended the Aviation Maintenance Officer School in Milton, Florida. In March 2010, he was then assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 31 in Beaufort, South Carolina, as an aircraft maintenance officer. During this tour, he was transferred to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VFMA) 533, where he served as the maintenance material control officer, as well as the assistant aircraft maintenance officer. During this time, he participated in the Unit Deployment Program to Iwakuni, Japan, and multiple large-scale aviation exercises and training, including Cope Tiger, Lava Viper, Enhanced Mojave Viper, Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, and Top Gun. After serving with VMFA-533, he then served as the assistant aircraft maintenance officer for VMFA-122 and MALS-31. In June 2013, he transferred to the Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1, F-35 detachment at Edwards Air Force Base, California. As the aircraft maintenance officer, he facilitated the detachment’s initial acceptance of F-35B aircraft, Safe for Flight certification, and sea trials aboard the USS Wasp (LHD 1).

In October 2018, he was assigned to the Joint Staff, J7 Deputy Directorate for Joint Training in Suffolk, Virginia, as a modeling and simulations officer on the Environment Operations Division’s technical teams. During this tour, he oversaw the entirety of technical activities for Cyber Flag 2019 and then was selected to serve as the executive assistant to the deputy director for joint training. 

From July 2021 to 2023, he served as the operations officer, S-4 (Logistics) officer, and Aviation Logistics Information Management System (ALIMS) division officer for MALS-24 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. During this tour, he oversaw the successful deployment of aviation logistics detachments in support of real-world “Summer Exercise”, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), U.S. Pacific Command Homeland Defense operations, and multiple squadron detachments throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of operations. He then served as the aviation maintenance branch head and aircraft maintenance officer for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific’s Aviation Logistics Division. During this tour, he was responsible for the successful sustainment of over 660 aircraft deployed throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. 

He reported Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Cherry Point, North Carolina, as commanding officer in June 2024.

His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards).
 

Last Updated: 19 August 2024

 
 
Guidance-Card-Icon Dept-Exclusive-Card-Icon