Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

MCAS Iwakuni Change of Command - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. William Bowers, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, salutes Marines and Sailors during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, Aug. 22, 2019. U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard Fuerst, outgoing commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni, relinquished command to Col. Lance Lewis, commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni. MCAS Iwakuni is a mission-ready air station, capable of providing continuous base-operating support for tenant organizations and follow-on U.S. and allied forces during training, combat or contingency operations throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lauren Brune)

VMGR-152 welcomes new commanding officer - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mitchell T. Maury, left, commanding officer of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Andrew Pushart, former commanding officer of VMGR-152, converse before a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 15, 2018. The squadron hosted the change of command in order to formally recognize the total transfer of authority from Pushart to Maury. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Seth Rosenberg)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Richard M. Rusnok Jr., oncoming commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, receives the VMFA-121 guidon from Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, outgoing commanding officer of VMFA-121, on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 3, 2017. The passing of the guidon is a Marine Corps tradition signifying the passing on of the commanding officer billet. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Richard M. Rusnok Jr., oncoming commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, receives the VMFA-121 guidon from Lt. Col. J.T. Bardo, outgoing commanding officer of VMFA-121, on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 3, 2017. The passing of the guidon is a Marine Corps tradition signifying the passing on of the commanding officer billet. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, renders a salute during his change of command ceremony at MCAS Iwakuni, July 22, 2016. Residents, locals and guests gathered aboard MCAS Iwakuni to witness U.S. Marines and sailors welcome Col. Richard Fuerst as their new commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert V. Boucher, outgoing commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, renders a salute during his change of command ceremony at MCAS Iwakuni, July 22, 2016. Residents, locals and guests gathered aboard MCAS Iwakuni to witness U.S. Marines and sailors welcome Col. Richard Fuerst as their new commanding officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Donato Maffin)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Darnell T. Richardson, right, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major, passes the squadron guidon to Lt. Col. Karl T. Schmidt, outgoing H&HS commanding officer, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 30, 2016. The passing of the guidon symbolizes the end of Schmidt’s role as commanding officer after serving in the position since June 9, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Farbo/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Darnell T. Richardson, right, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron sergeant major, passes the squadron guidon to Lt. Col. Karl T. Schmidt, outgoing H&HS commanding officer, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 30, 2016. The passing of the guidon symbolizes the end of Schmidt’s role as commanding officer after serving in the position since June 9, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Farbo/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. James S. Whiteker, Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 commanding officer, addresses the audience during his change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 30, 2016. Whiteker relinquished his duties as MWSS-171 commanding officer to Lt. Col. Jason B. Berg after serving as the squadron commander for two years. Whiteker notably led MWSS-171 to unprecedented levels of support for essential exercises, operations and humanitarian assistance efforts across the Pacific. For his efforts as the squadron commanding officer, Whiteker received the meritorious service medal gold star in lieu of a fourth award. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. James S. Whiteker, Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 commanding officer, addresses the audience during his change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 30, 2016. Whiteker relinquished his duties as MWSS-171 commanding officer to Lt. Col. Jason B. Berg after serving as the squadron commander for two years. Whiteker notably led MWSS-171 to unprecedented levels of support for essential exercises, operations and humanitarian assistance efforts across the Pacific. For his efforts as the squadron commanding officer, Whiteker received the meritorious service medal gold star in lieu of a fourth award. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Jessica Quezada/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. William Sanford, Combat Logistics Company 36’s new commanding officer, addresses Marines during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 20, 2016. Capt. Roderick Singleton Jr. relinquished his authority of CLC-36’s commanding officer to Sanford. Sanford will be assuming his first position of commanding officer after serving as the Marine Corps Installations Pacific installation motor transport officer for two years before becoming the plans and operations officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. William Sanford, Combat Logistics Company 36’s new commanding officer, addresses Marines during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 20, 2016. Capt. Roderick Singleton Jr. relinquished his authority of CLC-36’s commanding officer to Sanford. Sanford will be assuming his first position of commanding officer after serving as the Marine Corps Installations Pacific installation motor transport officer for two years before becoming the plans and operations officer. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. John A. Fallon, incoming Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 commanding officer, addresses the audience during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 10, 2016. Fallon assumed command from Lt. Col. Kolter R. Miller, outgoing MALS-12 commanding officer, after serving as the executive officer for three years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Justin Fisher/Released) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. John A. Fallon, incoming Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 commanding officer, addresses the audience during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 10, 2016. Fallon assumed command from Lt. Col. Kolter R. Miller, outgoing MALS-12 commanding officer, after serving as the executive officer for three years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Justin Fisher/Released)

Capt. Kevin Wheeler, the newly appointed Motor Transport Company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, addresses his Marines during a change-of-command ceremony at the Motor-T lot, Jan. 9, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Wheeler is taking the position from Capt. George Ivascu, the squadrons newly appointed assistant operations officer. - Capt. Kevin Wheeler, the newly appointed Motor Transport Company commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, addresses his Marines during a change-of-command ceremony at the Motor-T lot, Jan. 9, 2015, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. Wheeler is taking the position from Capt. George Ivascu, the squadrons newly appointed assistant operations officer.

Lt. Col. Kolter R. Miller, commanding officer of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, left, and Lt. Col. Michael D. Gonzalez salute colors during the MALS-12 change of command aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9, 2014. Miller is taking over the first command of his career and said he is confident he is able to fill Gonzalez’s shoes. - Lt. Col. Kolter R. Miller, commanding officer of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, left, and Lt. Col. Michael D. Gonzalez salute colors during the MALS-12 change of command aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 9, 2014. Miller is taking over the first command of his career and said he is confident he is able to fill Gonzalez’s shoes.