Col Shea was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May of 1995 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a Russian language, history and culture degree. After primary flight training, LtCol Shea transferred to HMT-303 in December of 1997 for initial UH-1N flight training. Upon completion of training at HMT-303 he reported to HMLA-267 at Camp Pendleton. After two deployments in the Western Pacific, he attended and graduated from the Aviation Safety Officer’s Course.
Upon completion of his initial aviation tour, he transferred to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 29 Palms, California in the Summer of 2001 as a Forward Air Controller and Air Officer. After this tour, he transferred to the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Virginia to be the H-1 Analyst and Night Vision Device Analyst. During this tour, LtCol Shea attained the qualification of a Transport Plane Commander in three UC-12 variants and was also designated a Culture Workshop Facilitator. As a Culture Workshop Facilitator, he assisted over 40 Commanding Officers with their unit organizational culture. He completed his Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Shortly after the end of his active service, he completed his Master of Business Administration from The Mason School, The College of William and Mary.
In 2009, LtCol Shea joined U.S. Marine Forces Command as Air Officer, Forward Air Controller and Operations Officer. In this capacity, he participated in two European large force exercises, Austere Challenge 10 and 11, providing support to coalition forces on the USS Mount Whitney in Italy, as well as at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. At the completion of these exercises in 2011, he joined 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) in West Palm Beach, Florida as Brigade Platoon Commander and Executive Officer. In these capacities, he led detachments to Reserve Integrated Training Exercises (RITX) in 2013 and 2014 and was the lead evaluator for Detachment K’s Georgian Deployment Program, Military Readiness Exercise in Hohenfels, Germany. At the completion of RITX, he assumed duties as Executive Officer and led a detachment to the coalition exercise, Sabre Strike 15 in Poland, where they controlled US, Polish, German and Danish aircraft and indirect and direct fire assets.
In 2016, LtCol Shea assumed Command of 6th ANGLICO and has participated in RITX, RIMPAC and Agile Spirit in the Republic of Georgia and has continued his FAC and Parachutist currency through participation in FAC/JTAC and jump operations. Following this command tour, he transferred to MARFORRES, New Orleans, LA and served in the G-7 conducting Commanding General’s Inspections. He was selected and attended the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. Upon returning from Italy, he joined MARFORCOM, Norfolk, VA as NATO and Expeditionary Operations Liaison, completed Marine Advisor Course and Joint & Combined Warfighting School and was the OIC of the DIA Detachment and a Reserve Marine Attaché at Defense Intelligence Agency where he transferred to his current position, Deputy Commander, Force Headquarters Group.