Lieutenant Colonel Volkert is a native of Verona, New Jersey and a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, King’s Point, New York in 1995. After receiving a commission in the USMC and completion of The Basic School, Second Lieutenant Volkert reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training and earned the designation as a Naval Aviator in 1998.

In March 1998, First Lieutenant Volkert was transferred to HMT-301, MCAF Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for training in the CH-53D and was subsequently assigned to HMH-463. While assigned to HMH-463, he served as the Schedules Officer, Aviation Safety Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. In 2001, Captain Volkert was transferred to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment to serve as the Battalion Air Officer and Forward Air Controller. While assigned to the Battalion, Captain Volkert also temporarily assumed the duties as the Commanding Officer, Alpha Company.

From 2002 to 2005, Captain Volkert served as an instructor pilot with Helicopter Training Squadron 18 (HT-18) in Pensacola, Florida. While at HT-18, he served in the Operations Department as a Flight Leader and then as the squadron’s lead Standardization Instructor.

In 2005, Major Volkert was assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1). At HMX-1, he served in the Operational Test and Evaluation department working on CH-53D/E/K programs, in the Operations Department as the Operations Officer, and as a Marine One Pilot.

Upon completion of his tour with HMX-1, Major Volkert returned to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI and was assigned to HMH-363. At HMH-363, he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Executive Officer during the squadron’s deployment to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 10.2.

In the summer of 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Volkert was selected to a joint assignment in the White House Airlift Operations department within the White House Military Office (WHMO) as a Presidential Airlift/Operations Coordinator. In 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Volkert assumed the duties as the Deputy Director of Operations for WHMO where he was responsible for oversight of White House Airlift Operations and the President’s Emergency Operations Center.

In August of 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Volkert returned to HMX-1 to join the VH-92A Operational Test Team (VOTT) as an Operational Test Director where he was responsible for test design, development of personnel requirements, training, and overall operational functionality of the future Marine One platform the VH-92A. In 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Volkert assumed the duties as the Executive Officer of HMX-1. In 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Volkert returned to the VOTT to continue with the development and testing of the new Marine One helicopter.

His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Strike/Flight Air Medal with Numeral 5, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star.