Biography

Major Philip M. Balmes II is the Commanding Officer of Company I, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, in Oahu, Hawaii. He assumed these duties in 2025 following his assignment at Camp Smith as Cybersecurity Group Chief for the NSA Senior Representative to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

A native of Grayson, GA, Major Balmes enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2001 and completed recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, SC. His first assignment was with the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing Band at MCAS Cherry Point, NC, where he served as an electric bass player. He joined the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) after his first enlistment and executed a lateral move to the 0321 military occupational specialty. Maj Balmes completed the Reconnaissance Marine training pipeline and reported to Company B, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, Smyrna, GA, where he advanced to Team Leader and Platoon Sergeant.

While serving in the SMCR, Major Balmes completed his undergraduate education and was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer in 2011 through the Platoon Leaders Course – Combined program. Following graduation from the Basic Officer Course and the Air Intelligence Officer Course, he was assigned to 1st MAW G-2 at Camp Foster, Okinawa, as the Collections Officer. He subsequently completed the Weapons and Tactics Instructor – Intelligence course at MCAS Yuma, AZ.

In 2014, Major Balmes served as the S-2 Officer for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 during the squadron's Unit Deployment Program rotation to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa. He then returned to 1st MAW G-2 as Production and Analysis Officer-in-Charge, where he supported JTF-505 foreign humanitarian assistance operations in the Philippines and Nepal, as well as major exercises in the Korean Theater of Operations.
In 2016, he executed orders to 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion at Camp Lejeune, NC, serving as S-2 Officer for Marine Special Operations Company H. In 2018, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve as the Special Operations Task Force – North S-2 Officer. Upon redeployment, he assumed duties as S-2 Officer for 2d Marine Raider Battalion.

Selected in 2019 to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, Major Balmes was assigned to the Space Systems Academic Group in the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science. In 2021, he returned to Camp Lejeune as Space Operations Officer, Assistant Targeting Officer, and Non-Kinetic Effects Officer within the II Marine Expeditionary Force Fires and Effects Coordination Center, where he supported operations and exercises in Norway and the Baltic Sea.

Major Balmes holds a B.S. in Construction Engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University (Marietta, GA), and a M.S. in Space Systems Operations with a Graduate Certificate in Cyber Warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School.
He is married to Fallon, his wife of nearly 17 years. They have four children: Gerard (14), Patricia (13), Dorothy (9), and Theodore (6).