Tom Reitmeyer was born October 15, 1951. He attended Resurrection Elementary and graduated from South Hills Catholic High School in 1970. Four years later he had earned a degree in Urban Management from the University of Pittsburgh. After an unsuccessful run for State Legislator, Tom applied for a Navy Commission in 1977. He was following in the footsteps of his older brother Bob, a former Navy Pilot.

F14 Tomcat Fighter-Interceptor.

After spending four-plus years in Naval Intelligence, he switched to duty on an F14 Tomcat fighter-interceptor. Tom was a flight officer, or Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), responsible for the fighter's weapons and radar systems.

Radar Intercept Officer Tom Reitmeyer, March 1989.

On April 15, 1986, Tom flew a mission in support of the United State's bombing of Libya. On that mission, his carrier-based F14 flew along as fighter escort for the raid. The attack was in reprisal for a series of terrorist bombings by extremist groups with ties to the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Tom's Navy career continued for another decade until his retirement in 1997. After twenty years of distinguished service, he had reached the rank of Commander.

In addition to his undergraduate degree in management, Tom Reitmeyer also earned a Master's Degree in administration. He spent time as an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught "Leadership and Ethics." With over fifteen years experience in private industry, Tom is the founder of Decision Now, a leadership, consulting and coaching firm.

Tom currently lives in Virginia Beach. He and his ex-wife Kim Kearns Reitmeyer (Elizabeth-Seton High School '73) have raised four children: Peter, Maggie, Molly and Joey. Kim now lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, near their two daughters and their two grandchildren.

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Continuing the Reitmeyer family military heritage, Commander Tom Reitmeyer's oldest son, Peter, is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps who served as a naval aviator. Tom's youngest son, Joseph, is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Coast Guard, currently serving in Alaska. Both Joseph and Peter saw duty in the Middle Eastern Theatre during the present-day War on Terror.

Peter's Marine Corps career began in December 1991. After basic training, he was a assigned as a Rifleman in I Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment from September 1992 through July 1996. First a basic rifleman, he was promoted first to Fire Team Leader and then to Squad Leader. During this time he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Pittsburgh.

From March 1997 through December 1999, he attended Officer Training School as a Student Naval Aviator. He was then assigned as Intelligence Officer and UN-1N Iroqois pilot with HMLA-269 from May 2000 through January 2002. His next assignment was as a Pilot Training Officer with HMM-263 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, managing pilot training for the Light Attack Detachment and flying Combat Operations as a UH-1N pilot.

Beginning in July 2003, his next year was spent as a Forward Air Controller with the 2nd Tank Battalion, coordinating and controlling the operations of tactical aircraft in the terminal phase of Close Air Support missions. The following year was spent as an Intelligence Officer with HMLA-267, this time managing the Squadron's Intelligence Department and serving as a UH-1N Instructor Pilot.

In October 2005 Peter was transfered to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit to manage the Squadron's Flightline Division and fly combat operations. After eleven months he attended the Marine Corps University, where he earned a Masters Degree in Military Operational Art and Science. He then served as a faculty member from June 2007 through August 2008.

In January 2009 he became a Future Operations Officer with the 2nd Marine Air Wing, where he practiced the skills to conduct planning and coordination of all USMC aviation assets in theater. He also flew additional combat operations. Then, from September 2009 through August 2011, Peter served as Operations Officer in HMLA-467.

During this time he was deployed with the 2nd Marine Air Wing to Operation Iraqi Freedom (1/2009-9/2009) and to Haiti for Operation Unified Response, providing earthquake relief (1/2010-4/2010). By this time Officer Reitmeyer had achieved the rank of Major.

Major Peter Reitmeyer's next assignment was with the prestigious Marine Helicopter Squadron-One as Presidential Command Pilot and Aviation Maintenance Officer. This assignment began in August 2011 and lasted nearly four years. During this time, his duties were numerous.

He supervised the maintenance department consisting of 500 personnel, nineteen Executive aircraft, sixteen Cargo helicopters and twelve Tilt-rotar aircraft along with the associated ground and test equipment. He also directed helicopter operations and coordinated with the President's Emergency Operations Center to ensure seamless support to the President of the United States. In addition, Peter oversaw the retirement of the CH-46 Chinook helicopter from the presidential support mission and the integration of the MV-22 Osprey.

  
Major Peter Reitmeyer stands next to the Presidential helocopter (left)
and Marine One taking off from the White House lawn.

Peter Reitmeyer also served as VH-3D Sea King/VH-60N White Hawk White House Helicopter Command Pilot, planning and flying worldwide missions in support of the President, Vice President and White House. He also served as a Marine One instructor pilot.

When Marine One lifted off from the White House lawn carrying the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, we could all rest assured that President Barack Obama and his family were in the capable hands of a decorated veteran pilot, born in Brookline, with a long and storied family history of dedicated military service to our country, and strong neighborhood roots.

The President and First Lady on their way towards boarding Marine One. It was Major Reitmeyer's first lift.

In June 2015, Marine Naval Aviator Peter Reitmeyer left the Presidential Transport Squadron and was assigned to the United States Naval Academy as Marine Detachment Chief of Staff. By now promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for all Marine Corps activities at the Academy.

On February 2, 2018, after a storied career spanning twenty-six years and two months, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Reitmeyer retired from the United States Marine Corps. He is currently working as a commercial pilot and a Marine Corps Historian. He is currently involved in researching the Battles of Pelleliu and Iwo Jima.

NOTE: The Reitmeyer family has quite a storied legacy of military tradition. It began with John Reitmeyer in 1929 and has continued through three generations until today. Click here to read about the amazing service record and sacrifice of this remarkable Brookline family.

* Written by Clint Burton: May 26, 2012 - Updated April 14, 2018 *