When Zachary Sessa first joined the Marine Corps, his path appeared set. He had signed a ground contract, pointing him toward a future in the infantry.

Yet life often has a way of redirecting ambition, and Sessa soon found an unexpected opportunity.

A shift into the highly demanding world of fighter aviation opened a new chapter for him, giving him the chance to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather by becoming a pilot.

That decision would eventually place him in the middle of a historic moment.

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At 33 years old, Sessa, a native of Butler, Pennsylvania, was named Military Times’ Marine of the Year after leading and excelling during 2024 air strikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.

These operations, carried out from the Red Sea, marked the very first strike mission for his aircraft, the F-35C.

The recognition followed another honor earlier that year when the Marine Corps named him Aviator of the Year in April. Both distinctions highlighted not only his personal achievements but also the significance of the mission he helped lead.

From the very beginning of his aviation career, Sessa’s trajectory was unique.

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Selected to fly the F-35C—the Navy’s carrier-capable version of the Joint Strike Fighter—he received a rare assignment for a Marine officer.

This meant he would be part of one of the aircraft’s earliest operational deployments as the Navy integrated F-35Cs into its carrier air wings. Reflecting on that period, Sessa said, “It was fun to be at the leading edge of that.”

Image Credit: DoW

Over the course of nearly ten years as a Marine aviator, Sessa served in several key roles.

He spent time as a flight instructor in Kingsville, Texas, and completed a routine F-35C deployment to the Western Pacific.

His second deployment in 2024 was supposed to be another WestPac cruise.

However, the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, dramatically altered global military priorities.

As the conflict in the Middle East escalated, Sessa’s squadron, VFMA-314, learned they would instead deploy to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

During this deployment, Sessa made history as the first Marine Corps F-35C weapons and tactics instructor. Early in the mission set, he flew defensive sorties, protecting naval and allied assets.

But in November, the tempo shifted. On November 9, the squadron was tasked with striking Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen.

These targets had been linked to rebel attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. For the F-35C, this would be its inaugural combat strike mission.

Another weapons and tactics instructor served as mission commander that first night, while Sessa commanded the second and final wave of strikes on November 10.

Preparation and planning were critical to the success of the missions. The team relied heavily on the F-35C’s advanced capabilities, including its stealth profile and large internal fuel capacity, which allowed for extended range.

According to Sessa, the strikes were executed flawlessly.

Even so, the exhilaration of accomplishment did not set in until after they returned safely to the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln. What happened next underscored the collective spirit of the operation.

“Watching the ordnance Marines all bending down to look up into the weapon bays to see that all the bombs were gone, and then the excitement there – all, you know, oh my gosh – that was honestly one of the most exciting parts of the mission,” Sessa recalled.

“Because that’s their Super Bowl.”

The celebration was not limited to the pilots. The ordnance crews and the entire support team shared the victory, because every role played a part in ensuring the aircraft and weapons were mission-ready.

Sessa was quick to recognize that his squadron, which also received the honor of being named Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year, deserved equal recognition. Their professionalism and dedication made the operation possible.

“Everyone was prepared to go execute,” he said. “They all just contributed to squadron success.”

Now serving as an F-35 instructor pilot in Yuma, Arizona, Sessa continues to pass on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of aviators.

His story serves as both a testament to personal perseverance and a reminder of the importance of teamwork.

While he may have been singled out for accolades, Sessa has remained steadfast in his belief that the honor belongs as much to his fellow Marines as it does to him.

Because of this outlook, his achievements carry even greater weight, symbolizing the spirit of the Marine Corps and the collaborative nature of military aviation.

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