Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins was commissioned through the NROTC Program at Old Dominion University in May 2007.
After graduating Infantry Officer’s Course in 2008, he reported to 3d Battalion, 8th Marines where he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer, deploying twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Following his tour with 3d Battalion, 8th Marines, he reported to Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment where he served as the Regimental Training Officer and 2d Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Platoon Commander, Bravo Company. During this tour, he deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Yokosuka, Japan.
In 2015, he attended the Expeditionary Warfare School and received follow-on orders to 1st Battalion, 2d Marines. During his tour with 1st Battalion, 2d Marines, he commanded both Headquarters and Service and Alpha Companies, deploying in support of Unit Deployment Program – East and Special Purpose MAGTF – Crisis Response – Africa. At the conclusion of his second deployment with 1st Battalion, 2d Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins was selected to attend Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 2017.
Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins graduated from Command and Staff College and was selected to attend the School of Advanced Warfighting in 2018. He graduated the School of Advanced Warfighting in 2019, and reported to Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group for his payback tour.
From 2019-2020, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins served as the Department Head of the Emerging Concepts and Innovation Department at the Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group. In 2020, he was reassigned to Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command to serve as the Commanding General’s operational planner.
In 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins reported to 2d Battalion, 7th Marines where he served as the Battalion Executive Officer and deployed with the battalion to Okinawa, Japan. Following his return from deployment, he assumed his current billet as the Operations Officer for 7th Marine Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Hawkins graduated with honors from: The Basic School, Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the School of Advanced Warfighting where he was the recipient of the General Clifton B. Cates Award.