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MAG-26
Command Biographies
VMM-365 Command Senior Enlisted Leader
Sergeant Major Robert W. Pinney

Squadron Sergeant Major, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, Marine Air Group 26 Sergeant Major Pinney is a native of Connecticut. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in December, 2002 and graduated recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina in February, 2003. Upon graduation he was ordered to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to attend the School of Infantry (SOI), East. After completion of the SOI as a 0311 Rifleman, he was ordered to Chesapeake, Virginia to Security Forces School. Once completed, he was assigned to Marine Corps Security Force Company, Kings Bay, Georgia. In March of 2005, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Corporal and attended Infantry Squad Leaders Course at the Advanced Infantry Training Company, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Upon returning to his command, he received orders to 1st Battalion, 3d Marines in Hawaii.

While at 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, Corporal Pinney deployed to Afghanistan to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom as a Squad Leader with Company B. He eventually assumed the role of Platoon Sergeant and was combat meritoriously promoted to Sergeant in May of 2006. Sergeant Pinney also participated in Operation Mountain Lion, the largest airborne assault in Afghanistan since Operation Anaconda. Following his time with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Sergeant Pinney attended Drill Instructor School in April of 2008, and upon graduation, received orders to the 2d Recruit Training Battalion.

Sergeant Pinney checked into Company H in August, 2008 where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Chief Drill Instructor. In January of 2010, he was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant. In October of 2010, he attended Infantry Unit Leaders Course in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In January, 2012, he was awarded the Drill Instructor Service Ribbon and executed orders to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. While serving in 5th Marine Regiment, he deployed in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Rotational Force Darwin, holding the billets of Rifle Platoon Sergeant, Combined Anti-Armor Team Platoon Sergeant, Rifle Platoon Commander, and Company Gunnery Sergeant. In January of 2015, Staff Sergeant Pinney was selected to be the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor (AMOI) at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN).

Staff Sergeant Pinney checked into UPENN in April, 2015, and was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant in October. While serving as the AMOI, he augmented multiple times to support Officer Candidate School. From October 2015 to July 2018, Gunnery Sergeant Pinney trained over 200 future Marine and Naval officers, to include the commissioning of over 40 second lieutenants at both UPENN and Villanova University's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Upon completion of AMOI duty, Gunnery Sergeant Pinney received orders to 3d Battalion, 3d Marines in Hawaii, where he was assigned as the Headquarters and Service Company Gunnery Sergeant.

In December of 2018, he was selected and frocked to the rank of First Sergeant. He then deployed as the Company First Sergeant for Company K, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, in support of 3d Marine Regiment's Unit Deployment Program. In March of 2020, he received orders to Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where he served as the Service Company First Sergeant. In June of 2022, First Sergeant Pinney received orders to 2d Maintenance Battalion, 2d Marine Logistics Group, where he served as the Ordnance Maintenance Company First Sergeant. In October of 2022 he was selected for the rank of Sergeant Major and subsequently given orders to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365, where he currently serves as the Squadron Sergeant Major.

Sergeant Major Pinney has an Associate of Applied Science in Small Group Management degree from Purdue University Global. His personal decorations include: The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three gold stars in lieu of fourth award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (one gold star in lieu of second award), and the Combat Action Ribbon.