MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Lieutenant Col. Philip King took the reigns of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron from Lt. Col. Thomas Abel in a change of command ceremony here Monday.
King, who served as the Station's Operations officer, holds a bachelor's of science degree in Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in May, 1982.
After completing The Basic School and flight training, King reported to Marine Attack Squadron 211 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif., where he flew the A-4M and made two unit deployments to Iwakuni.
King has also served with VMA-214, VMA-311, Marine Aircraft Group 13 and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 5 before transferring to the Station in November of 2001.
King has graduated from the Command and Staff College at Quantico, Va. and flew 40 combat missions in the AV-8B during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
His personal decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Flight Strike Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals.
King is married to Philicia King of Chiloquin, Ore. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Jessica and Elizabeth and one son, Matthew.
Abel, who has served as H&HS's commanding officer since July 2001, will attend the Marine Corps War College in Quantico.