Deputy Commandant for Aviation

Last updated

Deputy Commandant For Aviation
DCA
LtGen Bradford J. Gering.jpg
Incumbent
Lieutenant General Bradford Gering
since 16 February 2024
Reports to Commandant of the Marine Corps
Seat The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Appointer Commandant of the Marine Corps
First holder Alfred A. Cunningham
DeputyAssistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation
Website

The Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DCA) is the United States Marine Corps' principal advisor on all aviation matters and is the spokesperson for Marine Corps Aviation programs, requirements, and strategy throughout the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense. [1] DCA is normally the highest-ranking naval aviator in the Marine Corps and reports directly to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The role of DCA is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States Marine Corps Aviation forces.

Contents

DCA tour lengths have varied over the years based on war time requirements and personnel turnover. For the last two decades, typical tour lengths have been approximately three years. The billet is normally held by a lieutenant general. DCA and Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation work out of The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia.

Responsibilities

The Deputy Commandant for Aviation is responsible for developing, integrating, and supervising plans, policies, and budgets for all aviation assets and aviation expeditionary enablers (aviation command and control, aviation-ground support, and unmanned aircraft systems) in support of Marine air ground task forces. [1]

History

The Aviation Section, Headquarters Marine Corps was established in 1919. In charge initially was the Officer in Charge, Aviation. He was responsible to both the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Director of Naval Aviation for all Marine Corps related aviation matters. In 1920, Congress authorized Marine Corps Aviation to maintain a strength of approximately one-fifth the size of the Marine Corps. In 1936 the Aviation Section was renamed the Aviation Division and the billet was changed to the Director of Aviation. [2] In 1962 the name was again changed to Deputy Chief of Staff (Air). The current moniker of Deputy Commandant for Aviation began in Jun 1998. [3]

List of Deputy Commandants for Aviation

#PictureNameRankTermNotes
Took officeLeft officeDuration
1 USMC-19400.jpg Alfred A. Cunningham [4] Major 17 November 191912 December 19201 year, 25 daysNaval Aviator #5. [5] He was the first Marine Corps aviator. [6] World War I.
2 Portrait gray.png Thomas C. Turner [7] Lieutenant colonel 13 December 19202 March 19254 years, 79 daysNaval Aviator #772. [5] Distinguished Flying Cross; served in the Philippines, at Veracruz and in Haiti. During WWI, at the request of Hap Arnold, served as the OinC of flying at the Army's Ellington Field. [8]
3 Portrait gray.png Edwin H. Brainard [9] Major 3 March 19259 May 19294 years, 67 daysNaval Aviator #2982. Recipient of the Navy Cross for his actions during the Champagne Offensive in October 1918 while serving as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment. [10] Obtained the Marine Corps' first cargo plane in 1927. [9]
4 Portrait gray.png Thomas C. Turner [11] Colonel 10 May 192928 October 19312 years, 171 daysSee #2 above. The nine day gap between Col Turner and Maj Geiger was due to Col Turner being killed by a whirling propeller blade in Haiti on 28 October 1928.
5 Roy Geiger.jpg Roy Geiger [4] Major 6 November 193129 May 19353 years, 204 daysNaval Aviator #49. [5] Two time recipient of the Navy Cross. Served as the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during the Battle of Guadalcanal [12] and Commanding General of the III Marine Amphibious Corps during the Battle of Okinawa. Also the only Marine to ever command a field army when he temporarily took command of the Tenth Army after the death of Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. [13]
6 Rowell RE.jpg Ross E. Rowell [14] Colonel 30 May 193510 March 19393 years, 284 days Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross; Served in Nicaragua and flew at the Battle of Ocotal, [15] was Commanding General, Marine Aircraft Wings Pacific during World War II.
7 Ralph J. Mitchell, USMC.jpg Ralph J. Mitchell [4] Brigadier General 11 March 193929 March 19434 years, 18 days Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals; Distinguished Flying Cross from Nicaraguan Campaign.
8 Roy Geiger.jpg Roy Geiger [16] Major General 13 May 194315 October 1943155 daysSee #5 above.
9 Woods LE.jpg Louis E. Woods [4] Brigadier General 15 October 194317 July 1944276 daysVeteran Guadalcanal Campaign, veteran Okinawa Campaign, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
10 Field Harris.jpg Field Harris [4] Major General 18 July 194424 February 19483 years, 221 daysGraduate U.S. Naval Academy; Lieutenant general; Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals
11 William J. Wallace.jpg William J. Wallace [4] Major General 24 February 19481 September 19502 years, 189 days Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Guadalcanal Campaign & Battle of Okinawa
12 Clayton C. Jerome.jpg Clayton C. Jerome [4] Brigadier General 1 September 19501 April 19521 year, 213 daysRetired at Lieutenant General; Commanded both 1st and 2d MAW; veteran of Nicaraguan Campaign, Yangtze Patrol, Solomon Islands campaign, Bougainville campaign, Philippines campaign and the Korean War.
13 Brice WO.jpg William O. Brice [3] Lieutenant General 1 April 195231 July 19553 years, 121 days Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Veteran of World War II, having fought at Guadalcanal, and the Korea; also served as Commanding General of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
14 Schilt CF USMC.jpg Christian F. Schilt [3] Lieutenant General 1 August 195531 March 19571 year, 242 days Medal of Honor; General; Veteran World War I, United States occupation of Haiti, United States occupation of Nicaragua, and World War II [17]
15 Verne J. McCaul.jpg Verne J. McCaul [3] Lieutenant General 1 April 19572 December 1957245 days Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War. [18]
16 Portrait gray.png Samuel S. Jack [3] Major General 14 January 195820 February 195837 daysVeteran Nicaraguan Campaign, World War II and Korean War; Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy; Recipient of the Navy Cross
17 Munn JC.jpg John C. Munn [19] Major General 21 February 195814 December 19591 year, 296 days Silver Star; Guadalcanal Campaign & Battle of Okinawa; Korean War
18 Binney.jpg Albert F. Binney [3] Major General 15 December 195910 September 19611 year, 269 daysVeteran World War II and Korean War; commanding general 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing; graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1928;
19 Keith B. McCutcheon.jpg Keith B. McCutcheon [3] Colonel 11 September 196117 February 1962159 days General; Distinguished Flying Cross; Army Silver Star Medal; Commanding Officer Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1); commanding general, III Marine Amphibious Force; McCutcheon Field at MCAS New River, North Carolina is named in his honor. [20]
20 Official Portrait of U.S. Marine Corps Major General Marion E. Carl.jpg Marion E. Carl [3] Colonel 18 February 19624 July 1962136 daysTwice awarded the Navy Cross; Battle of Midway & Guadalcanal Campaign; Vietnam War [21]
21 Portrait gray.png Norman J. Anderson [3] Brigadier General 5 July 196220 October 19631 year, 107 days Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross with three gold stars; Air Medal with two silver stars; graduate UCLA
22 Louis B. Robertshaw.jpg Louis B. Robertshaw [22] Major General 21 October 196315 June 19662 years, 237 daysGraduate U.S. Naval Academy; captain of the 1935 Naval Academy football team; Inspector General of the Marine Corps [22]
23 Keith B. McCutcheon.jpg Keith B. McCutcheon [3] Major General 15 June 196618 February 19703 years, 248 daysSee #19 above.
24 HomerSHill photo.jpg Homer S. Hill [3] Major General 19 February 197024 August 19722 years, 187 daysSee #19 above.
25 5 - BGen Edward S. Fris (covered-color) - 11 N0v 1971.jpg Edward S. Fris [3] Major General 25 August 197227 August 19742 years, 2 days Lieutenant general; Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; pioneer in the development of today's Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS).
26 Portrait gray.png Philip D. Shutler [3] Brigadier General 28 August 197419 January 1975144 days Lieutenant general; Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War.
27 Portrait gray.png Victor A. Armstrong [3] Major General 20 January 197521 August 1975213 days Lieutenant general; Veteran World War II; Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and 2 gold stars; Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star
28 LtGen Thomas H. Miller - 2.jpg Thomas H. Miller Jr. [3] Lieutenant General 22 August 197529 June 19793 years, 311 daysFirst American to fly the Hawker Siddeley Harrier. [23]
29 LtGen William J. White - 2.jpg William J. White [3] Lieutenant General 1 July 197930 June 19822 years, 364 daysVeteran Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Distinguished Flying Cross
30 WilliamHFitch.jpg William H. Fitch [24] Lieutenant General 1 July 198231 August 19842 years, 61 days Lieutenant general; Silver Star Medal
31 Lieutenant General Keith A. Smith.jpg Keith A. Smith [3] Lieutenant General 1 September 198429 April 19883 years, 241 days Lieutenant general; Distinguished Flying Cross
32 PitmanCharles.jpg Charles H. Pitman [3] Lieutenant General 1 July 199530 June 19993 years, 364 days Lieutenant general; Silver Star Medal
33 Portrait gray.png Duane A. Wills [3] Lieutenant General 17 August 199030 June 19932 years, 317 days Lieutenant general; Veteran Vietnam War; Distinguished Flying Cross; lettered in football at UCLA;
34 Hearney RD.jpg Richard D. Hearney [3] Lieutenant General 1 July 199314 July 19941 year, 13 days Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; General; Served in the Vietnam War and Gulf War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal
35 Blot-DN-SC-88-08053.jpeg Harold W. Blot [3] Lieutenant General 15 July 199421 July 19962 years, 6 days
36 Dake TR.jpg Terrence R. Dake [3] Lieutenant General 22 July 199628 June 19981 year, 341 days
37 Portrait gray.png Frederick McCorkle [25] Lieutenant General 28 June 19982 August 20013 years, 35 days Vietnam War
38 LtGen William L. Nyland.jpg William L. Nyland [3] Lieutenant General 2 August 200110 September 20021 year, 39 days Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Vietnam War [26]
39 LtGen Michael A. Hough.jpg Michael A. Hough [3] Lieutenant General 3 October 20022 November 20053 years, 30 days
40 LtGen John G. Castellaw.jpg John G. Castellaw [3] Lieutenant General 3 November 200510 March 20071 year, 127 days
41 LtGen Trautman.jpg George J. Trautman III [27] Lieutenant General 5 July 200731 January 20113 years, 210 days
42 Terry G. Robling.jpg Terry G. Robling [28] Lieutenant General 31 January 201110 March 20121 year, 39 days
43 Lt. Gen. Robert E. Schmidle,Jr.jpg Robert E. Schmidle Jr. Lieutenant General 31 January 201231 January 20141 year, 210 days
44 Lieutenant General Jon M. Davis.JPG Jon M. Davis [29] Lieutenant General 31 January 201431 July 20173 years, 26 days
45 Lt. Gen. Steven R. Rudder.jpg Steven R. Rudder Lieutenant General 11 July 201716 July 20202 years, 360 days
46 Lt. Gen. Mark R. Wise.jpg Mark R. Wise Lieutenant General 6 July 202027 July 20222 years, 21 days
47 LtGen Michael S. Cederholm.jpg Michael Cederholm Lieutenant General 27 July 202216 February 20241 year, 204 days
48 LtGen Bradford J. Gering.jpg Bradford Gering Lieutenant General 16 February 2024Incumbent1 day

Timeline

Bradford GeringMichael CederholmMark R. WiseSteven R. RudderJon M. DavisRobert E. Schmidle Jr.Terry RoblingGeorge J. Trautman IIIJohn G. CastellawMichael A. HoughWilliam L. NylandFrederick McCorkleTerrence R. DakeHarold W. BlotRichard D. HearneyDuane A. WillsCharles H. PitmanKeith A. Smith (USMC)William H. FitchWilliam H. WhiteThomas H. MillerVictor A. ArmstrongPhilip D. ShutlerEdward S. FrisHomer S. HillKeith B. McCutcheonLouis B. RobertshawNorman J. AndersonMarion E. CarlArthur F. BinneyJohn C. MunnSamuel S. JackVerne J. McCaulChristian F. SchiltWilliam O. BriceClayton C. JeromeWilliam J. Wallace (USMC)Field HarrisLouis E. WoodsRoy GeigerRalph J. MitchellRoss E. RowellThomas C. TurnerEdward H. BrainardAlfred A. CunninghamDeputy Commandant for Aviation

Citations

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps .
  1. 1 2 "Marine Aviation". marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  2. ↑ Rottman 2002, pp. 384.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Kaufman 2012, pp. 315.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sherrod 1952, pp. 433.
  5. 1 2 3 Kaufman 2012, pp. 314.
  6. ↑ Mersky 1983, pp. 2.
  7. ↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 21.
  8. ↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 19–21.
  9. 1 2 Sherrod 1952, pp. 27.
  10. ↑ "Edwin H. Brainard". www.valor.militarytimes.com. The Hall of Valor Project. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  11. ↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 28.
  12. ↑ Willock 1968, pp. 202–239.
  13. ↑ Willock 1968, pp. 302–303.
  14. ↑ "Ross Rowell". www.pioneersofflight.si.edu. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. ↑ Sherrod 1952, pp. 24–27.
  16. ↑ Willock 1968, pp. 240.
  17. ↑ "Schilt, Christian F." www.history.navy.mil. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "Lieutenant General Verne James McCaul, USMC (Deceased)". www.usmcu.edu. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  19. ↑ John H. Hesterly (8 November 2010). "John Calvin Munn (1906–1986)". The Central Arkansas Library System – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  20. ↑ "Keith B. McCutcheon". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  21. ↑ Goldstein, Richard (30 June 1998). "Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, 82, Marine Air Ace in World War II". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  22. 1 2 "Lieutenant General Louis B. Robertshaw". www.usmcu.edu. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  23. ↑ "Thomas H. Miller". goefoundation.org. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  24. ↑ "William H. Fitch". veterantributes.org. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  25. ↑ "Frederick McCorkle, USMC (Retired)". www.tnaviationhof.org. Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  26. ↑ "William L. Nyland, USMC (Retired)". www.usmcu.edu. Marine Corps University. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  27. ↑ "LtGen George J. Trautman III USMC (ret.)". www.mcsf.com. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  28. ↑ "Terry G. Robling". www.ksaintegration.com. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  29. ↑ "Lieutenant General Jon M. Davis". www.montgomerysummit.com. Macquarie. Retrieved 24 January 2020.

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References

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