LtCol Dallas “Stella” Hayes Attended Platoon Leader’s Course in Quantico, VA during the summer of 2003 and 2004, and then commissioned after graduating from Central Michigan University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration.

After commissioning, he attended The Basic School in Quantico, VA, followed by Aviation Preflight Indoctrination at NAS Pensacola, FL, and then conducted his flight training syllabus through various training squadrons including VT-27 and VT-35 at NAS Corpus Christi, TX, and HT-8 at NAS Whiting Field, FL.  First Lieutenant Hayes was designated a Naval Aviator in September 2008 and reported to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 (VMMT-204), MCAS New River, NC for training in the MV-22B Osprey.

After initial training in the Osprey, First Lieutenant Hayes’ first operational assignment was to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (VMM- 261), serving with the “Raging Bulls” from March 2009 to June 2013.  During this period, he was promoted to Captain and completed two deployments with the squadron, the first of which was to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan from November 2009 to July 2010, and the second was on 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 2012.  His billet assignments during this tour included serving as a Schedule Writer, Ground Training Officer, Flight Line Division Officer in Charge, Current Operations Officer, Future Operations Officer, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor.  

Captain Hayes then received orders to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) in Quantico, VA where he served as an HMX-1 “Nighthawk” from June 2013 to August 2016. During this tour, he traveled to dozens of locations throughout CONUS and OCONUS in support of Presidential travel requirements.  Captain Hayes’ duties included the facilitation and planning of numerous travel requirements for the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, as well as various Heads of State and visiting foreign officials as directed by the Marine Corps and the White House Military Office.  His billet assignments while at HMX -1 included serving as a Schedule Writer, a White House Liaison Officer (WHLO) and a White House Tiltrotor Aircraft Commander (WHTAC).  During his tour as a Nighthawk, he completed Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff, and was promoted to Major.

Upon completion of his tour with HMX-1, Major Hayes received orders to report to II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) G-3 in Camp Lejeune, NC where he served as the Strategic Engagements Officer from August 2016 to May 2017.  While on staff at II MEF, he coordinated, planned, and executed dozens of engagements for visiting Flag Officers, Congressional Delegations, Senators, and Foreign Military Officials.  At the conclusion of this tour, he received orders to report to the “Black Knights” of VMM-264 as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and deployed with the squadron in 2017 providing disaster relief in Puerto Rico during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria and deployed again on the 22nd MEU from December 2018 to July 2019. Upon return from deployment, Major Hayes assumed the billet of the Executive Officer and planned and executed the process of casing the colors in June 2020 as VMM-264 was directed to stand down in support of Force Design 2030. While serving with the Black Knights, Major Hayes earned his Masters of Business Administration Degree from Central Michigan University.

In July 2020, Major Hayes’ received orders for his next assignment with the “Wild Goose” of VMM-774, the reserve MV-22 Squadron in Norfolk, VA. While with the Wild Goose, Major Hayes served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer and oversaw the geographic relocation of the entire squadron from Norfolk, VA to New River, NC, again in support of Force Design 2030. During his tour with VMM-774, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and selected for command of MAG-49 Detachment D, Site Support New River.

His personal decorations include the Strike/Flight Air Medal with numeral “3”, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.