Biography

First Sergeant Hornbuckle was born in San Jose California. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January of 2008 and graduated boot camp at MCRD, San Diego on April 25th, 2008. In May of 2008 he graduated MCT and was ordered to his MOS school at Camp Johnson North Carolina, graduating in September 2008. Upon graduation, First Sergeant Hornbuckle checked in for duty at Camp Pendleton California with CLR-17 at the disbursing office where he was sent to Advisor Training Group Camp Pendleton to deploy with RCAC 3-6 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April of 2009.

During his time as an Afghan Army Advisor Trainer, LCpl Hornbuckle was combat meritoriously promoted to Corporal in December of 2009. When he returned from deployment in April of 2010 he was sent back to work as a pay NCO at the Camp Pendleton Disbursing office. In January of 2011 Cpl Hornbuckle was sent to be a Primary Marksmanship Instructor at Edson Range Camp Pendleton, where he would graduate as honor grad for Combat Marksmanship Coaches course as well as Combat Marksmanship Instructor course. In 2011 and until June 2012 Cpl Hornbuckle would teach thousands of recruits how to shoot their issued weapons and become lethal Marine riflemen. From there Cpl Hornbuckle lateral moved into Air Traffic Control and would check in to MCAS Camp Pendleton. After a brief school tour graduating in November of 2012, from NAS Pensacola Fl. He would become an assistant crew chief and begin training for MOS qualifications.

Sergeant Hornbuckle would then PCS to MCAS Futenma, Okinawa Japan in August of 2014. While there he became facility rated on all control positions available at the ATC facility. In January of 2016 he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant and was designated as a crew chief. Under his charge, the crew quickly became the top performing crew in the facility. After serving as the radar chief for MCAS Futenma, SSgt Hornbuckle checked in to NAS Pensacola to become a schoolhouse instructor for the ATC MOS. In January of 2020 he was promoted to the rank of GySgt and was made the Tower ATC section supervisor. In that job he was responsible for 30 Marine and Sailor instructors and was the only Marine Subject Matter Expert in a Navy fronted school. In January 2021 GySgt Hornbuckle was designated as the AMS-2 Squadron Gunnery Sergeant and performed as the acting 1stSgt on two separate occasions.

In February 2022, GySgt Hornbuckle reported to Marine Air Control Squadron 2 at MCAS Cherry Point North Carolina. GySgt Hornbuckle trained in WTI 1-23 as Company Mike operations chief and had a hand in all planning and execution of company Mike's Marines during the exercise. During his time spent at MCAS Cherry point, GySgt Hornbuckle served as a crew officer for 30 Marines and gained the primary MOS of 7291. GySgt Hornbuckle completed the Marine ATC Mobile Team Instructor (MMTI) course during WTI 1-24 in the fall of 2023. On March 1st, 2024, he was promoted to the rank of 1stSgt and checked in to Echo Battery 2nd Battalion 10th Marines, Camp Lejeune North Carolina, to serve as the Echo Battery 1stSgt. October of 2024, Echo Battery deployed to III MEF in support of the Unit Deployment program. Upon return in April of 2025, 1stSgt Hornbuckle was assigned as Headquarters Battery senior enlisted leader. With HQ Battery, First Sergeant Hornbuckle would take the Battery to conduct Service Level Training Exercise 4-25 and serve as the senior enlisted leader for over 250 Marines. On June 1st, 2026, First Sergeant Hornbuckle checked into Ground Supply School aboard Camp Johnson North Carolina to serve as the school senior enlisted leader.

First Sergeant Hornbuckle has over 100 college credit hours towards a degree in Airfield Management.  His personal decorations include: The Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 1 gold star in lieu of second award) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 gold stars in lieu of fourth award as well as the distinguishing Combat "V" Device), Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.