Lieutenant Colonel Coletta graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from University of Rhode Island and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1994. After completing the Basic School, he reported to NAS Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. In June 1996, he reported to Meridian, MS for intermediate and advanced jet training and was designated as a Naval Aviator in November of 1997.
As a Captain he reported to VFA-125 for initial F/A-18 Hornet training during the summer of 1997 and subsequently reported to the “Thunderbolts” of VMFA-251 in Beaufort SC.
With the “Thunderbolts”, he deployed during the fall of 1999 in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, and once again in the fall of 2001 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In June of 2002, LtCol Coletta received orders to the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico VA where he was awarded the Marine Corps Aviation Association Robert Johnson Memorial Award for the outstanding aviator in his class.
In May of 2003, LtCol Coletta was assigned to the “Silver Eagles” of VMFA-115 and attended the USMC Weapons Tactics Instructor course (WTI) and the Navy’s Strike Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). In September 2004, he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM aboard the USS Harry S. Truman and was subsequently nominated as the Marine Air Group-31 Marine Corps Aviation Association Aviator of the Year. With the Silver Eagles, LtCol Coletta served as the Pilot Training Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer.
In June 2006, as a Major, he received orders to the Naval War College in Newport RI for intermediate level school where he earned a Masters of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. While in RI he would go on to serve as the Navy’s Head of Air and Land Doctrine at the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC), and subsequently the Newport Executive Assistant to Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Carpenter, Commander of NWDC, a position he held until the summer of 2009. Upon completion of his tour with NWDC, he attended refresher training at VFA-106 and was promoted to his current rank of LtCol.
Personal decorations include: The Meritorious Service Medal, Individual Air Medal with combat “V”, six Air Medal Strike Flight Awards, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.