MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The former branch head for officer assignments at Headquarters, United States Marine Corps, in the office of Manpower Management took command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 in a change-of-command ceremony in front of the Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 hangar here June 19.
Col. Stephen G. Nitzschke succeeded Col. Mark R. Wise who is slated to join the United States Forces Afghanistan staff as the command aviation officer in Kabul, Afghanistan.
“MAG-12, my hat is off to you. It’s been an absolutely fantastic year,” said Wise. “It’s been eye watering to see what you’ve been able to accomplish.”
During his years in the Marine Corps, Nitzschke has served under several titles, including as a squadron naval air training and operating procedures standardization officer in Iwakuni, Japan, and EA-6B instructor pilot with Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. He also served as commander of 2nd Brigade Platoon, 2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 as the maintenance officer and executive officer, and later, as the commanding officer.
He also participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Nitzschke received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Washington at Seattle and received his commission in 1985.
He also graduated with distinction from the United States Naval War College, Newport, R.I., in June 2005.
“I look forward to serving you as the MAG- 12 commanding officer,” said Nitzschke. “Since 1942, MAG-12 has had 95 different commanding officers. Through all that change however, one thing has remained relatively constant, and that is our mission. The essence of our mission is to be ready when our nation calls to defend our interest and the interest of our allies. We are the ready group. That is our legacy, and that will not change.”
Nitzschke’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a “V” device, Meritorious Service Medal, and an individual Air Medal with strike flight numeral “3”.