Len Anderson

Major, U.S. Marine Corps

Major Len Anderson was born in San Diego, California, and grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. He was a member of the varsity track team and still holds the pole vault record at Proctor High School. He graduating from Proctor in 1989 and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating with honors in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in science and technology with an emphasis in environmental engineering.

Len was commissioned a Marine Corps second lieutenant upon graduation and reported to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, for The Basic School. He reported to aviation indoctrination at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, and then completed primary flight training at NAS Whiting Field, Florida. He then transferred to NAS Kingsville, Texas, for training in the T-45 and earned his wings of gold in September 1995.

Len then transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA 106) at NAS Cecil Field, Florida., for training in the F/A-18 Hornet. In May 1997, he reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA 312) at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina. He completed a Mediterranean Sea deployment aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in 1999 in support of Operations Desert Fox, Southern Watch and Deliberate Forge. He then attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in 1999 and the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOP GUN) in 2000. Len then completed his second Mediterranean Sea deployment in 2001 aboard the maiden voyage of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation Southern Watch.

In June 2001, Len transferred to Marine Air Group 31 (MAG 31) as the weapons and tactics officer for Marine Corps F/A-18 East Coast squadrons.