Marines


Biography

 

Major Max Z. Caggiano
Executive Officer
MARINE HEAVY HELICOPTER SQUADRON 772 (-)

Major Max Z. “Crispy” Caggiano, grew up in Schnecksville, PA and graduated from Allentown Central Catholic High School in 2007. He attended the United States Naval Academy earning a B.S. in English with his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 2011.

First Lieutenant Caggiano was designated a Naval Aviator in November 2013, and reported to MCAS New River, Jacksonville, NC for training in the CH-53E Super Stallion. He then reported to HMH-366, the “Hammerheads”, at MCAS Cherry Point, NC where he served in various roles in the Operations Department and the S-5. From December 2015 to February 2017, he served on the CH-53E detachment to VMM-264(REIN) as part of the 22nd MEU aboard the USS San Antonio and the USS Wasp, deploying to both 5th and 7th Fleet.

Following his return to HMH-366, Captain Caggiano deployed with the “Hammerheads” as part of the Special Purposed Marine Air-Ground Task Force 17.2 to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras from May to November 2017, serving as the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Quality Assurance Officer. At the conclusion of that deployment, Captain Caggiano returned to MCAS New River, serving as the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer and deploying for NATO Exercise Trident Juncture in Iceland and Norway from September to November 2018. He left the fleet in July 2019 and attended Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA.

At the conclusion of Expeditionary Warfare School, Captain Caggiano checked into Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1). The following year, he promoted to Major and served in multiple roles during his four-year tour including Schedule Writer, NATOPS Officer and the Programs Department Officer in Charge. He qualified as a Presidential Command Pilot and Executive Flight Lead in the VH-60N and VH-3D spending over 260 days deployed in direct support of the President and served as the detachment officer in charge for 14 domestic and two overseas Presidential support missions.

Major Caggiano accessed into the Active Reserves in July 2024, joining the “Hustlers” of HMH-772(-) at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ, served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer for one year, and currently serves as the Executive Officer.

Major Caggiano’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.