U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) met with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Zachary Sessa, a Butler native, in his Washington office on Thursday morning following Sessa’s recent recognition as the “2025 Military Times Marine of the Year.” The award was presented during a ceremony hosted by the Military Times and Military Times Foundation in Washington, D.C., recognizing Sessa “for his groundbreaking leadership and distinguished performance during the first-ever F-35C Lightning II combat operations.”
During their meeting, Rep. Kelly gave Maj. Sessa a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol to honor this achievement.
“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.”
Maj. Sessa, age 33, served as lead weapons and tactics instructor for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314) during its 2024 deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Under his direction in November, the squadron carried out the F-35C Lightning II’s first combat missions against Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen after attacks on commercial vessels in both the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In addition to flying nighttime combat sorties himself, Sessa mentored new F-35 leaders and instructors.
Mike Kelly has represented Pennsylvania’s 16th District in Congress since 2011 after succeeding Kathy Dahlkemper (https://kelly.house.gov/about). He was born in Pittsburgh in 1948 and currently lives in Butler.
For more information about Maj. Sessa and the Marine of the Year Award, visit: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2025/09/03/butler-native-named-marine-of-the-year/.
