Sergeant Major Pilkington was born in Castro Valley, California, and enlisted in the Marine Corps June 2001. Upon graduating from MCRD San Diego, California in June 2002, Private First Class Pilkington attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton,
California. July 2002, he attended Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron-1 in Meridian, Mississippi where he obtained the MOS of 6672, Aviation Supply Specialist.
October 2002, Private First Class Pilkington was assigned to MALS-24, MAG-24, I MAW. December 2002, Private First Class Pilkington was promoted to Lance Corporal. October 2003, Lance Corporal Pilkington deployed with HMH-362 “Ugly Angels” to Iwakuni, Japan.
January 2004, Lance Corporal Pilkington was promoted to Corporal.
Upon returning from Iwakuni, Japan in April 2004, Corporal Pilkington was assigned as Training NCOIC for MALS-24. February 2005, Corporal Pilkington was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
March 2006, Sergeant Pilkington was attached to H&HS, MCAS Miramar. Sergeant Pilkington was assigned as a Crew Chief with VMR-1 and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Horn of Africa. Upon returning from deployment, Sergeant Pilkington was assigned to the ISMT as a small arms weapons instructor.
August 2008, Sergeant Pilkington participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon return from deployment, Sergeant Pilkington was promoted to Staff Sergeant in October 2009.
October 2009, Staff Sergeant Pilkington reported to Recruiter School. Upon successful completion of Recruiter School, he was assigned to RSS Victorville, California, RS San Diego, 12th Marine Corps District. He completed two years as a canvassing recruiter. December 2011, Staff Sergeant Pilkington became the SNCOIC of RSS Imperial Beach, CA.
February 2013, Staff Sergeant Pilkington was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-11 as the Consumables Control Branch SNCOIC. March 2014, Staff Sergeant Pilkington deployed with VMFA-314 for the Request For Fires (RFF) deployment.
January 2015, Staff Sergeant Pilkington reported to COMNAVAIRLANT, Norfolk, Virginia to conduct duties as the Integrated Logistics Support SNCOIC and was assigned as the Company Gunnery Sergeant. Staff Sergeant Pilkington was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in September 2015.
April 2019, Gunnery Sergeant Pilkington was frocked to First Sergeant. From April 2019 to February 2022 he served as the Company First Sergeant of Company F, Weapons Co., and H&S Co. 2D Bn, 3D Marines, 3D MarDiv, where he completed two FDF deployments to the Pacific.
March 2022, First Sergeant Pilkington served as the Company First Sergeant, H&S Co., H&S Bn, School of Infantry (West). March 2023, Sergeant Major Pilkington was promoted to his current rank and reported to Marine Combat Training Battalion (West) to serve as the
Command Senior Enlisted Leader.
Sergeant Major Pilkington's personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (w/ numeral '5' in lieu of 5th Air Strike/Flight award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of fourth award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of second award), and Army Achievement Medal.