List of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Commanders

1st Marine Aircraft Wing Logo

The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the island of Okinawa, Japan. Activated in 1941, the wing has seen heavy combat operations during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Commanding Generals

#	Picture	Name	Rank	Start	End	Notes	Notability	Ref
1		WoodsLouis E. Woods	O-04 Lieutenant Colonel	000000001941-07-07-0000July 7, 1941	000000001941-08-20-0000August 20, 1941		Veteran 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	[1][2]
2		GeigerRoy S. Geiger	O-04 Colonel	000000001941-08-20-0000August 20, 1941	000000001943-04-21-0000April 21, 1943		Navy Cross Medal; Commanding General Fleet Marine Force, Pacific	[1][3]
3		MitchellRalph J. Mitchell	O-04 Major General	000000001943-04-21-0000April 21, 1943	000000001944-02-01-0000February 1, 1944		Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals; Director of Marine Corps Aviation 1939-1943; Distinguished Flying Cross from Nicaraguan Campaign.	[1]
4		MooreJames T. Moore	O-04 Major General	000000001944-02-01-0000February 1, 1944	000000001944-06-15-0000June 15, 1944			[1]
5		MitchellRalph J. Mitchell	O-04 Major General	000000001944-06-15-0000June 15, 1944	000000001945-06-05-0000June 5, 1945	Second time held command	Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals; Director of Marine Corps Aviation 1939-1943; Distinguished Flying Cross from Nicaraguan Campaign.	[1]
6		MooreJames T. Moore	O-04 Major General	000000001945-06-05-0000June 5, 1945	000000001945-06-06-0000June 6, 1945	Acting Commander		[1]
7		MajorHarold C. Major	O-04 Colonel	000000001944-06-06-0000June 6, 1944	000000001944-06-11-0000June 11, 1944	Acting Commander		[1]
8		MerrittLewie G. Merritt	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001945-06-11-0000June 11, 1945	000000001945-08-11-0000August 11, 1945		World War I veteran; Director, South Carolina Legislative Council; Citadel alumni; Merritt Field as MCAS Beaufort is named after him	[1][4][5]
9		LarkinClaude A. Larkin	O-04 Major General	000000001945-08-11-0000August 11, 1945	000000001945-10-31-0000October 31, 1945		Lieutenant General; MAG-21 Commanding Officer at Ewa Field during Pearl Harbor attack	[1][2][6][7]
10		WoodsLouis E. Woods	O-04 Major General	000000001945-10-31-0000October 31, 1945	000000001946-07-01-0000July 1946		Veteran 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	[2][8]
11		SandersonLawson H. M. Sanderson	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001946-07-01-0000July 1946	000000001947-09-01-0000September 1947		Aviation Pioneer, veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, as Commanding officer of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Sanderson accepted the Japanese surrender of Wake Island in 1945.
12		WoodsLouis E. Woods	O-04 Major General	000000001947-09-01-0000September 1947	000000001949-07-01-0000July 1949		Veteran 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	[2][8]
13		HarrisField Harris	O-04 Major General	000000001949-07-01-0000July 1949	000000001951-07-27-0000July 27, 1951		Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; Lieutenant General; Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals
14		SchiltChristian F. Schilt	O-04 Major General	000000001951-07-27-0000July 27, 1951	000000001952-04-12-0000April 12, 1952		Medal of Honor; General; Veteran World War I, United States occupation of Haiti, United States occupation of Nicaragua, and World War II	[9][10]
15		JeromeClayton C. Jerome	O-04 Major General	000000001952-04-12-0000April 12, 1952	000000001953-01-09-0000January 9, 1953		Lieutenant General; Commanding General, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing	[11][12]
16		MegeeVernon E. Megee	O-04 Major General	000000001953-01-09-0000January 9, 1953	000000001953-12-01-0000December 1953		Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General Fleet Marine Force Pacific; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal	[13]
17		McCaulVerne J. McCaul	O-04 Major General	000000001954-03-01-0000March 1954	000000001954-08-01-0000August 1954		Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War;	[14]
18		BinneyArthur F. Binney	O-04 Major General	000000001957-01-01-0000January 1957	000000001957-12-01-0000December 1957		Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1928;	[15]
19		HayesCharles H. Hayes	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001957-12-01-0000December 1957	000000001959-04-01-0000April 1959		Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1930;	[15]
20		RobertsCarson A. Roberts	O-04 Major General	000000001959-04-01-0000April 1959	000000001959-12-01-0000December 1, 1959		Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Distinguished Flying Cross; Lieutenant General	[16]
21		MangrumRichard C. Mangrum	O-04 Major General	000000001959-12-01-0000December 1, 1959	000000001960-04-01-0000April 1960		Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War; Navy Cross; Commanding General 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing	[17]
22		KierAvery R. Kier	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001960-04-01-0000April 1960	000000001961-06-01-0000June 1961		Veteran World War II and Korean War; Navy Cross; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing	[15]
23		CondonJohn P. Condon	O-04 Major General	000000001961-06-01-0000June 1961	000000001962-08-01-0000August 1962		Veteran World War II and Korean War; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1934;	[18]
24		LeekFrederick E. Leek	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001962-06-01-0000June 1962	000000001963-02-01-0000February 1963		Commanding General, 1st Marine Division June–July 1961; Assistance Division Commander, 1st Marine Division 1961-1962	[19]
25		BowmanGeorge S. Bowman	O-04 Major General	000000001963-02-01-0000February 1, 1963	000000001964-01-01-00001964			[15]
26		FontanaPaul J. Fontana	O-04 Major General	000000001964-01-01-00001964	000000001965-05-24-0000May 24, 1965		Flying ace with 5 aerial victories; Navy Cross; Distinguished Flying Cross	[20][21]
27		McCutcheonKeith B. McCutcheon	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001965-05-24-0000May 24, 1965	000000001966-05-16-0000May 16, 1966		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.	[22][23]
28		RobershawLouis Robertshaw	O-04 Major General	000000001966-05-16-0000May 16, 1966	000000001967-06-01-0000June 1967		Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; Captain of the 1935 Naval Academy football team; Inspector General of the Marine Corps	[24]
29		AndersonNorman J. Anderson	O-04 Major General	000000001967-06-01-0000June 1967	000000001968-06-21-0000June 21, 1968		Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross with three gold stars; Air Medal with two silver stars; Graduate UCLA	[25]
30		QuilterCharles J. Quilter	O-04 Major General	000000001968-06-21-0000June 21, 1968	000000001969-07-07-0000July 7, 1969			[26]
31		ThrashWilliam G. Thrash	O-04 Major General	000000001969-07-07-0000July 7, 1969	000000001970-07-02-0000July 2, 1970		Veteran World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War; Prisoner of War from May 1952 to September 1953; Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold star; Distinguished Flying Cross	[27]
32		ArmstrongAlan J. Armstrong	O-04 Major General	000000001970-07-02-0000July 2, 1970	000000001971-04-01-0000April 1971		Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star	[28]
33		OwensRobert G. Owens, Jr.	O-04 Major General	000000001971-04-01-0000April 1971	000000001972-08-01-0000August 1, 1972		Flying ace with 7 victories; Navy Cross; Distinguished Flying Cross w/ 4 gold stars; Commanding General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing	[29]
34		LangFrank C. Lang	O-04 Major General	000000001973-04-01-0000April 1973	000000001974-05-01-0000May 1974		Veteran World War II; Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and 2 gold stars; Distinguished Flying Cross with 7 stars	[30]
35		ArmstrongVictor A. Armstrong	O-04 Major General	000000001974-05-01-0000May 1974	000000001975-01-01-0000January 1975		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	[31]
36		WhiteWilliam J. White	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001976-01-06-0000January 6, 1976	000000001976-02-23-0000February 23, 1976	Acting Commander	Veteran Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Distinguished Flying Cross	[32]
37		NewNoah C. New	O-04 Major General	000000001976-01-01-00001976	000000001978-02-10-0000February 10, 1978		Veteran Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Distinguished Flying Cross	[33]
38		DavisJohn K. Davis	O-04 Major General	000000001978-02-15-0000February 15, 1978	000000001979-06-01-0000June 1979		General; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing	[34]
39		MaloneyWilliam R. Maloney	O-04 Major General	000000001979-06-01-0000June 1979	000000001980-06-02-0000June 2, 1980		Lieutenant General; Silver Star; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross; Commanding General 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; Commanding General 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing	[35]
40		FitchWilliam H. Fitch	O-04 Major General	000000001980-06-02-0000June 2, 1980	000000001982-06-02-0000June 2, 1982		Lieutenant General; Silver Star Medal	[36]
41		WentJoseph J. Went	O-04 Major General	000000001982-06-02-0000June 2, 1982	000000001983-05-06-0000May 6, 1983		Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; General; Veteran Vietnam War	[37]
42		PetersenFrank E. Petersen Jr.	O-04 Major General	000000001983-05-06-0000May 6, 1983	000000001985-01-01-00001985		Lieutenant General; Distinguished Flying Cross; Gray Eagle Award; Man of the Year, NAACP, 1979.	[38]
43		PitmanCharles H. Pitman	O-04 Major General	000000001985-06-12-0000June 12, 1985	000000001987-09-09-0000September 9, 1987		Lieutenant General; Silver Star Medal	[39]
44		PlastererRoss S. Plasterer	O-04 Major General	000000001987-09-09-0000September 9, 1987	000000001989-09-01-0000September 1989		Veteran Vietnam War; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross	[40]
45		WillsDuane A. Wills	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001989-09-09-0000September 9, 1989	000000001990-08-01-0000August 1990		Lieutenant General; Veteran Vietnam War; Distinguished Flying Cross; lettered in football at UCLA;	[41]
46		EhlertNorman E. Ehlert	O-04 Major General	000000001990-08-06-0000August 6, 1990	000000001991-01-01-0000January 1991		Lieutenant General; Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross	[42]
47		BladesArthur C. Blades	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001991-07-01-0000July 1991	000000001992-06-01-0000June 1992		Silver Star; Distinguished Flying Cross	[43][44]
48		ForneyWilliam A. Forney	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001992-06-01-0000June 1992	000000001994-06-24-0000June 24, 1994		Veteran Vietnam War; Legion of Merit	[45][46]
49		KaramarkovichGeorge M. Karamarkovich	O-04 Brigadier General	000000001994-06-24-0000June 24, 1994	000000001996-05-01-0000May 1996		Veteran Vietnam War; Defense Superior Service Medal	[47]
50		KnutsonBruce B. Knutson, Jr.	O-04 Major General	000000001996-05-01-0000May 1996	000000001998-04-01-0000April 1998		Lieutenant General	[48]
51		AndersonJoseph T. Anderson	O-04 Major General	000000001998-04-01-0000April 1998	000000002000-01-01-00002000		Veteran Vietnam War; Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; Deputy Director, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum	[49][50]
52		CartwrightJames E. Cartwright	O-04 Major General	000000002000-01-01-00002000	000000002002-08-05-0000August 5, 2002		General; Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Commander, U.S. Strategic Command	[51]
53		GoodmanJohn F. Goodman	O-04 Major General	000000002002-08-05-0000August 5, 2002	000000002004-06-03-0000June 3, 2004		Lieutenant General; Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Soldiers Medal; Veteran Vietnam War; Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific; Director, Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance; former NFL quarterback	[52]
54		ThiessenDuane D. Thiessen	O-04 Major General	000000002004-06-03-0000June 3, 2004	000000002005-06-10-0000June 10, 2005			[53]
55		TrautmanGeorge J. Trautman, III	O-04 Major General	000000002005-06-10-0000June 10, 2005	000000002007-06-08-0000June 8, 2007			[54]
56		SchmidleRobert E. Schmidle, Jr.	O-04 Brigadier General	000000002007-06-08-0000June 8, 2007	000000002008-07-28-0000July 28, 2008			[55]
57		FoxRaymond C. Fox	O-04 Brigadier General	000000002008-07-28-0000July 28, 2008	000000002010-06-28-0000June 28, 2010			[56]
58		BeydlerWilliam D. Beydler	O-04 Brigadier General	000000002010-06-28-0000June 28, 2010	000000002012-06-22-0000June 22, 2012			[57]
59		OwensChristopher S. Owens	O-04 Brigadier General	000000002012-06-22-0000June 22, 2012	000000002013-07-09-0000July 9, 2013			[58]
60		RudderSteven R. Rudder	O-04 Brigadier General	000000002013-07-09-0000July 9, 2013	000000002015-07-30-0000July 30, 2015			[59]
61		SanbornRussell A. Sanborn	O-04 Brigadier General	000000002015-07-30-0000July 30, 2015	Incumbent			[60]

See also

• List of Historically Important U.S. Marines
• List of United States Marine Corps aircraft wings
• List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

References

Inline citations

United States Marine Corps
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower
Major commands	Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific
Structure	Marine Air-Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF/Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raiders Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division
Personnel and training	Personnel Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program
Uniforms and equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment
History and traditions	History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Marine One Marines' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman's Creed Semper Fidelis Silent Drill Platoon History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots White House Sentries
Portal Category

Major Commands of the United States Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps
Operating Forces
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic	Marine Corps Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force 2nd Marine Division 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 2nd Marine Logistics Group 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marine Corps Forces, Europe Marine Corps Forces, South Marine Corps Forces, Strategic
Fleet Marine Force, Pacific	Marine Corps Forces, Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force 1st Marine Division 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing 1st Marine Logistics Group 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit III Marine Expeditionary Force 3rd Marine Division 1st Marine Aircraft Wing 3rd Marine Logistics Group 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Marine Forces Central Command
Other Operating Forces	Marine Forces Reserve 4th Marine Division 4th Marine Aircraft Wing 4th Marine Logistics Group 3rd Civil Affairs Group 4th Civil Affairs Group others Marine Corps Security Forces Marine Security Guard MARSOC
Support Establishment
Support Establishment	Combat Development Command Recruit Depots Logistics Command Recruiting Command Marine Band
Marine Corps Installations Command	Marine Corps Installations East Marine Corps Installations West Marine Corps Installations Pacific

1st Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 Marine Wing Liaison Kadena
MAG-12	MALS-12 MWSS-171 VMGR-152 VMFA(AW)-242
MAG-24	MALS-24 MWSD-24 VMU-3 HMLA-367 HMH-463
MAG-36	MALS-36 MWSS-172 VMM-262 VMM-265
MACG-18	MTACS-18 MACS-4 MASS-2 MWCS-18