Brigadier General Stephen Lightfoot was assigned to his current position as Commanding General of Task Force 51/5 in July 2024.
His operational assignments include command of the Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 24 “Pacific Eagles” in Hawaii (2018-2020, 2000+ personnel and 100 aircraft), where the seven subordinate squadrons regularly deployed globally across the Indo-Pacific, partnered with Allies, and maintained a forward presence with the MV-22B, CH-53E, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, RQ-7, and RQ-21 aircraft. He also commanded Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 469 “Vengeance” (2010-2012, 400+ personnel and 30 AH-1W and UH-1Y aircraft) through a deployment to Afghanistan as the first unit to employ laser guided rockets in combat, and successfully repelled an enemy ground attack on the Camp Bastion flight line. He deployed for one year with Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan (2017-2018), deployed to Iraq twice with the HMLA-369 “Gunfighters” (2006-2009) and deployed twice with HMLA-367 “Scarface” (1997-2001) in support of the WESTPAC 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS ESSEX (LHD-2) and to Okinawa as part of the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) rotation. Selected to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1, 2001-2005), he flew the President of the United States aboard “Marine One” as well as the Vice-President and various Heads of State to numerous trip sites across the globe.
His staff assignments include Director, Capabilities Development Directorate, HQMC Combat Development and Integration (2022-2024); Director, Aviation Combat Element, Capabilities Development Directorate, HQMC Combat Development and Integration (2021-2022); Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Navy (2020-2021); Branch Head for Aviation Manpower and Support, HQMC Aviation (2020); Aviation Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels Monitor, Manpower Management Officer Assignments, HQMC Manpower and Reserve Affairs (2014-2017); and Executive Officer, The Basic School (2009-2010).
He attended Carnegie Mellon University on an NROTC scholarship (1990-1994), The Basic School, earned his Naval Aviator wings (1996), and selected to fly the AH-1W Super Cobra. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School (2003), Command and Staff College (2006), Naval War College (2014), and the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program (2021).
Brigadier General Lightfoot is a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) with every attainable flight instructor qualification and has flown more than 3700 hours in various type/model/series fleet aircraft: AH-1W, AH-1Z, UH-1N, UH-1Y, MV-22B, CH-46E, CH-53E, RQ-7B, RQ-21A, VH-3D, & VH-60N, with 900 hours in support of combat operations, 800 hours on night vision devices, authorization to wear the Presidential Service Badge, and numerous personal decorations. He is happily married with three wonderful children.