Maj David “Rainman” Hill completed Officer Candidate School Platoon Leaders Class during the summer of 2001. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 11 May 2002. After completing The Basic School in June 2003, he reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training. First Lieutenant Hill was designated a Naval Aviator on 11 February 2005 and assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 for qualification in the CH-46E.
In July 2005, First Lieutenant Hill joined the Blue Knights of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 (HMM-365) where he served in various billets to include Current Operations Schedule Writer, Portable Flight Planning Software Officer, Classified Material Control Center Officer, S-5, and S-6 OIC. Within two months of reporting for duty, in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, he was dispatched to support rescue and evacuation operations along the Gulf Coast as part of SPMAGTF-Katrina. In 2006, he deployed with the 24th MEU aboard the USS IWO JIMA supporting the Lebanon NEO of American civilians. He deployed again in 2008 to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of International Security Assistance Force, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
In December 2008, Captain Hill reported to Training Wing Five (TW-5) to serve as an Advanced Helicopter Instructor Pilot with Helicopter Training Squadron Eight (HT-8) at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL. During this tour, he served as a Schedule Writer, Student Marine Control Officer, and Chief of Naval Aviation Training (CNATRA) Advanced helicopter Formation Stage Manager. While stationed there, Captain Hill completed the Expeditionary Warfare School Distance Education Program and the Unmanned Aircraft Commander Course.
In January 2012, Captain Hill reported to Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 (VMU-2) at MCAS Cherry Point to serve as a RQ-7B Unmanned Aircraft System Mission Commander. During this tour he served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Ground Training Officer, Advanced Party Lead, and Detachment Operations Officer. In April 2012, he deployed with the Night Owls to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 12.1 and 12.2.
In April 2013, Captain Hill reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 (VMMT-204) at MCAS New River for transition training in the MV-22 and was designated a Tiltrotor Second Pilot.
In September 2013, Major Hill reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264 (VMM-264) serving as the squadron’s Director of Safety and Standardization and later the Logistics Officer in Charge. In July 2014, he deployed with the Black Knights to Morón Air Base, Spain in support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa (SPMAGTF-CR-AF) 14.2.
In March 2015, Major Hill was reassigned to Marine Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) to serve as the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) MV-22B Type Model Series Team Action Officer.
In July 2016 Major Hill reported to MWSS-272 for duties as the Executive Officer
Maj Hill has accumulated more than 2400 military flight hours. His personal awards include: Air Medal (combat “V”), Air Medal Strike/Flight (2), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.