Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, LtCol Ethan Krumnow enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 2000 as an Infantry Rifleman, beginning his career with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines. From 2000 to 2004, LCpl Krumnow attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration with dual majors in Operations Management and Marketing. Upon graduation, he was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) program in 2004. After completing The Basic School and flight training, 1stLt Krumnow was designated a Naval Aviator and assigned to fly the AH-1W Cobra, reporting to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 (HMLA-269) aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River.
While with HMLA-269, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (2008–2009), followed by deployments with VMM-162 (REIN) and VMM-261 (REIN) in support of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2010 and 2012, respectively. In 2013, Capt Krumnow was assigned as the Air Officer for Kilo Company, 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), where he served in multiple billets, including Company and Battalion Air Officer, SOCOM JTAC Instructor/Evaluator, and G-3 Assistant Air Officer.
He briefly returned to HMLA-269 in 2017 before being selected as the Air Officer for Task Force Southwest’s inaugural deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and NATO’s Resolute Support Mission. Following that deployment, he returned to the squadron, serving as Director of Safety and Standardization and Executive Officer, before transferring to Marine Aircraft Group 29 as Commanding Officer of the Personnel Support Detachment.
In 2020, Major Krumnow reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, Combat Development and Integration, where he served as Branch Head for the Air Vehicle Integration Branch, Aviation Combat Element Division, Capabilities Development Directorate. In May 2023, he received orders to HQMC Programs and Resources, where he served as Branch Head for Aviation Budget and Execution. LtCol Krumnow is currently the Commanding Officer of MCAF Quantico.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3rd award), Air Medal (Numeral 5), and the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal.
LtCol Krumnow earned a Master of Arts in Global Policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in December 2022.