Col Kenneth K. Rossman, a native of Pennsylvania, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps on 14 December 2001. Following Pilot training, he received his Naval Aviator wings in May 2004 and has since served in a variety of operational and staff billets throughout his career. On 2 July 2025, he assumed command of MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
Col Rossman’s operational tours include service with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 (HMH-466) “Wolfpack” and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (HMM-163) Reinforced (REIN) “Evil Eyes” with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) at MCAS Miramar where he deployed three times to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). In 2015 he led the HMH-465 “Warhorse” detachment for Marine Medium Tiltrotor squadron 161 (VMM-161 REIN) “Pegasus” during a 15th MEU deployment to the USINDOPACOM, USCENTCOM, and USAFRICOM areas of operations. In 2019 he assumed command of VMM-264 “Black Knights” at MCAS New River. In accordance with Marine Corps Force Design 2030, he deactivated VMM-264 in June 2020. In August 2020, he assumed command of VMM-162 “Golden Eagles” at MCAS New River and led the reinforced squadron on deployment with the 24th MEU ultimately supporting the Afghanistan Non-Combatant Evacuation (NEO) in 2021.
Col Rossman’s staff tours include service at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1) as a CH-53D/E Super Stallion instructor and the Assault Support Specialist in the Aviation Development, Tactics, and Evaluation Department (2009-2013); Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation as APW-74, Digital Interoperability and Joint Mission Planning System Requirements Officer (2016-2018); and on the Joint Staff (JS) Joint Operational Directorate Central Command J-35 and as the Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant for the Director for Operations JS J-3 (2022-2025).
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania; a Master of Arts degree in National Security & Strategic Studies (with Distinction) from the U.S. Naval War College; and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Information and Cyberspace Studies from the College of Information and Cyberspace, National Defense University. Col Rossman is a graduate of the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course (IOC) and the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course.
Col Rossman’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, the Air Medal with nine Strike/Flight Awards, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Col Rossman has accumulated over 2,600 mishap-free flight hours in the CH-53D, CH-53E, and MV-22B.