Major
General John G. Castellaw
Commanding General,
Second Marine Aircraft Wing
Major
General John G. Castellaw was commissioned via the Platoon Leaders Class program
from the University of Tennessee, Martin in 1972. His junior officer tours were
in assault amphibious vehicle, tank, and aviation units deploying to the
Mediterranean, Western Pacific, and Middle East. During these tours he served as
a platoon commander, company executive officer, assistant inspector-instructor,
and squadron pilot.
Major General Castellaw served two staff tours at Headquarters Marine Corps in
the Department of Aviation, the Pentagon, a tour in the Current Operations
Division, Operations Directorate, the U.S. European Command and was assigned to
temporary duty with the staff of the United Nations Protective Force
Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Siege of Sarajevo.
His last assignment was Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Pacific, headquartered
at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.
He
has commanded Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264, the Aviation Combat Element
for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Marine
Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), the 3d Marine Expeditionary
Brigade, and U.S. Forces during peace enforcement operations in East Timor. In
addition, the General has served as Executive Officer, Headquarters and
Maintenance Squadron 26, Deputy Commander, III Marine Expeditionary Force and
Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Central Command.
Major General Castellaw has attended the Basic School, the Amphibious Warfare
School, the Armed Forces Staff College (6 month course) and the NATO Defense
College. He holds a Masters Degree in Military Studies from the American
Military University.
An assault helicopter pilot (CH-46) with over 3000 flight hours logged in both
rotary and fixed wing aircraft, Major General Castellaw is a Weapons and Tactics
Instructor and holds all helicopter instructor/evaluator and flight leadership
qualifications. He was the 1990 recipient of the Cunningham Award given to the
Marine Aviator of the Year.
The General's decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal and Legion
of Merit with two gold stars.
Brigadier General James F. Flock
Assistant Wing Commander, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Brigadier Gen. James F.
Flock earned his commission in the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders
Class in 1975 after his graduation from University of Wisconsin with a
bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.
He
then attended The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and completed
flight training at the Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas.
The
general has served with a variety of squadrons, including Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron (VMFA) 312, VMFA 531, VMFA 323, VMFA (Training) 101 and Strike Fighter
Squadron 125 logging more than
4,900 flight hours on the F-4 Phantom and F/A-18 Hornet and other tactical
aircraft.
Brigadier
Gen. Flock has completed operational tasks as a line division officer, naval air
training and operational procedures and standard (NATOPS) officer, logistics
officer, air naval gunfire liaison officer, administrative officer, assistant
aircraft maintenance officer, flight instructor, systems training officer and
aircraft maintenance officer.
Staff
assignments include tours with Headquarter Marine Corps and the U.S. Atlantic
Command.
Command
roles assumed by the general include executive and commanding officer, VMFA-323;
executive officer, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 11; commanding officer, MAG-12;
and deputy commander, Marine Forces Reserve.
In
addition to his engineering degree, BGen. Flock also holds a Master’s degree
in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. Service
school he has attended include the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, Forward Air
Control School, U.S. Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructors Course and the
Naval War College.
Today, the 2nd MAW is equipped with fighters, attack jets, electronic countermeasures aircraft, helicopters, and refueling and transport aircraft. The three main aviation groups at Cherry Point that make up the 2nd MAW include Marine Aircraft Group-14, Marine Wing Support Group-27 and Marine Air Control Group 28. The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing also includes MAG-31, with its F/A-18 Hornets stationed at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., and two helicopter groups, MAG-26 and MAG-29, are stationed at MCAS New River, N.C
The 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (2d MAW) was originally
commissioned in July 1941. Its first home base was San Diego, with two squadrons
there as well as four others in Hawaii. The squadrons based in Hawaii sustained
extensive damage during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
The 2d MAW retained its fighting spirit during events following the attack. It
contributed to 83 South Pacific combat operations, including major events at
Wake Island, Okinawa, Midway, Saipan, Guadalcanal, Tinian and Guam.
After fighting Japanese forces in WWII, the wing made Cherry Point its home in
April 1946.
Its subsequent history includes activities across the globe. The Mediterranean
and Caribbean have seen the wing active in contingency operations and exercises.
The 2d MAW also participated in Vietnam, supplying combat ready units and
personnel to other Marine Wings deployed on land. During the 1980s, the 2d MAW
was active in Lebanon, Cuba, Grenada, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and more
recently, the Middle East.