Lt. Col. Benjamin “Tuma” Friedrick was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 2002 after graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. He completed The Basic School, Naval Flight School and was designated a Naval Aviator in 2004. Following advanced training, he completed the EA-6B Prowler Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) at VAQ-129 in August 2005 and received orders to VMAQ-3 at MCAS Cherry Point. While attached to VMAQ-3, he served in the Operations Department as the Ground Training Officer. Lt. Col. Friedrick deployed with the Moondogs in August of 2006 ISO Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) amassing over 500 combat flight hours. After returning, Lt. Col. Friedrick was tasked to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) as an Individual Augment attached to Combined Joint Task Force 82 headquartered in Bagram, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Current Operations and put in charge of a newly developed cell designed to revamp and consolidate the inflow and storage of combat reporting from Regional Command-East AO.

In February 2008, Lt. Col. Friedrick reported for duties at MAG-14 as the EA-6B Standardization Officer, after which he was selected to attend Expeditionary Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia in July 2008. He reported to VMAQ-2 in November of 2009, then moved to VMAQ-3 in April 2010 to serve as the Aviation Safety Officer. He again deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan from October 2010 to March 2011 in support of OEF.  Lt. Col. Friedrick filled department head billets as the Director of Safety and Standardization, Administration, and Logistic Officers.

Lt. Col. Friedrick reported to NAS Whidbey Island in July 2012 to be an EA-6B FRS Instructor at VAQ-129. As the last Marine instructor to report to VAQ-129, he helped close out the Marine Corps instructor presence and aided in the transition of the Marine EA-6B FRS to VMAQT-1 at MCAS Cherry Point. Lt. Col. Friedrick reported to VMAQT-1 in May 2014 to continue instructing with the Banshees.

After the sundown of VMAQT-1 in June 2016, Lt. Col. Friedrick reported again to VMAQ-3 as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer. During this time, he deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from March to October 2017. He was assigned as the Executive Officer for the Moondogs from Jan. 1 to May 31, 2018 when the squadron deactivated. He reported to III Marine Expeditionary Force Command Element on June 15, 2018 and served as the Deputy Current Operations Officer. In 2020, he received orders to Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron, MCAS New River where he served as the Commanding Officer. In July 2022, Lt. Col. Friedrick reported to Headquarters & Support Battalion, MCIEAST-MCB Camp Lejeune where he serves as the Executive Officer.

Lt. Col. Friedrick holds a History degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and is a graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff War College. He has flown over 2,800 total flight hours and has been designated Mission Commander, Division/Section Lead, NATOPS Instructor, Instrument Evaluator and FCF Standardization Officer in the EA-6B and Tactical Aircraft Commander in the UC-12.  His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (14 Strike/Flight awards), the Navy and Marine Corps and Joint Commendation Medal and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.