Lieutenant Colonel Philip Bies is a native of Andover, Minnesota. He commissioned in May 2006 after graduating with a degree in Aerospace Engineering form Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Following graduation from the Basic School, Lieutenant Colonel Bies reported to NAS Pensacola to begin flight school. Lieutenant Colonel Bies received his wings in 2009 and reported to VMMT-204 in MCAS New River, North Carolina for training on the MV-22B Osprey.
Upon completion of training Lieutenant Colonel Bies was assigned to VMM-263, the Thunder Chickens, in New River, North Carolina. While at the Thunder Chickens, Lieutenant Colonel Bies deployed for 11 months in 2011 as part of the Aviation Combat Element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR in Libya as well as contingency operations throughout the Middle East. In 2014, the Thunder Chickens were again deployed as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit where they were the first to support Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Iraq.
Upon his return from deployment Lieutenant Colonel Bies was assigned to VMMT-204, the Raptors, as a Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor pilot. While at the Raptors, Lieutenant Colonel Bies trained two years’ worth of new Tiltrotor Pilots. In October 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Bies left Active Duty to mobilize with VMM-764, the Moonlighters, in Miramar, California.
Immediately following Lieutenant Colonel Bies’ arrival at the Moonlighters, the squadron mobilized to deploy in support of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Taskforce Crisis Response AFRICOM. During this deployment, Lieutenant Colonel Bies served as Current Operations Officer and completed his Master’s Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. While deployed, the Moonlighters supported movements throughout EUCOM and AFRICOM in support of coalition training operations and national contingency operations. Upon their return to the United States, Lieutenant Colonel Bies became a traditional drilling reservist, flying monthly with the Moonlighters.
While a Moonlighter, Lieutenant Colonel Bies held the billets of Operations officer, Airframes Officer, Administrative Officer and Quality Assurance officer. He supported five annual training exercises including Kodiak Artic Care in Kodiak, Alaska, Multiple Integrated Training Exercises and RAVEN Marine Special Operations training exercise.
In 2023, Lieutenant Colonel Bies transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 41 where he served as Executive Officer. During his time at Marine Aircraft Group 41, Lieutenant Colonel Bies oversaw the planning and execution of Integrated Training Exercises 4-24 as well as the planning of Atlantic Alliance 25.
In April of 2025 Lieutenant Colonel Bies retuned to VMM-764 where he assumed command in May of 2025.
As a Civilian, Lieutenant Colonel Bies, serves as a Technical Director for Gauss Management Research and Engineering in Fishers, Indiana. His personal Awards include: Air Medial-Individual Action; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.