Colonel Jeremy Hawkins was born in Lakenheath, England. He graduated from The Ohio State University in June 2003 and was commissioned in December 2003, upon the completion of Officer Candidate School. He was designated a Naval Aviator and completed initial training in the CH-53E in 2006.
Colonel Hawkins has served in a variety of roles within the heavy lift helicopter community, including Division Maintenance Officer at HMH-461, Tactics Officer at HMH-463, and as the Operations Officer and later Commanding Officer of HMH-464. He has completed multiple combat and operational deployments. He deployed to Djibouti in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2011 with HMH-461 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He has also deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units to the U.S. European, Central, and Indo-Pacific Command areas of responsibility with 22nd MEU / VMM-162(REIN) in 2009, 31st MEU/ VMM-265(REIN) in 2013, and as the MAGTF Operations Officer for the 26th MEU(SOC) in 2023.
His staff assignments include serving as the Operations Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 29 at MCAS New River; Heavy Lift Requirements Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation in the Pentagon; and as the N-5 at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia.
Colonel Hawkins is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School (non-resident program), the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, the Air Command and Staff College (Distinguished Graduate), and the Army War College.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with three Gold Stars, the Air Medal with Flight Strike Numeral 5, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, and the Combat Action Ribbon.