Kelly honors Butler native named "Marine of the Year"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) met with Butler native and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Zachary Sessa in Kelly's Washington office Thursday morning.

On September 3, Maj. Sessa was honored as the "2025 Military Times Marine of the Year" during a ceremony hosted by the Military Times and Military Times Foundation in Washington, D.C. "for his groundbreaking leadership and distinguished performance during the first-ever F-35C Lightning II combat operations."

Rep. Kelly presented Maj. Sessa with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of this designation.

"Major Sessa has committed his life to serving our great country. He is most deserving of the title of 'Marine of the Year'," said Rep. Kelly. "Prior to our meeting today, I spoke with Maj. Sessa's family, and they couldn't be prouder. I know the Butler community is proud to call him a son, as well."

BACKGROUND

Maj. Sessa, 33, served as the lead weapons and tactics instructor for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) during its historic 2024 deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. In November, under his guidance, the squadron executed the F-35C Lightning II’s first combat missions, striking Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Sessa flew critical nighttime combat sorties while mentoring the next generation of F-35 leaders and instructors.

Learn more about Maj. Sessa and the Marine of the Year Award here.