2nd Marine Aircraft Wing News

2nd MAW leaders attend January 2026 Senior Leaders' Conference

Maj. Joseph Leitner — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:01:15 GMT

Leaders from across 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Installations East came together for two days at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina to take part in 2nd MAW’s January 2026 Senior Leaders’ Conference, Jan. 14-15.

The Path Towards More

Cpl. David Ornelasbaeza — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:22:19 GMT

Becoming a Marine was something Sgt. Matthew B. Holder, an Alabama native and a network administrator with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron (MWHS) 2, always knew he wanted to do. Afterall, he grew up in the Marine Corps.

Two Marines Awarded American Red Cross Lifesaving Award After Swift Action on Onslow Beach

Lance Cpl. Erica Padgett — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:23:00 GMT

Two Marines assigned to the Onslow Beach Marine Detachment were awarded the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award at Onslow Beach on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Dec. 16, 2025.

VMM-264 reactivates following five-year hiatus

Capt. Jacob Ballard — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 22:08:21 GMT

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 264, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), was reactivated during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, on Thursday.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 Returns from Historic Deployment with F-35B Lightning II

Master Sgt. Shakima Deprince — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:31:21 GMT

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 (VMFA-542), operating the F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter, has successfully returned from a historic five-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, marking a major milestone in Marine Corps aviation and joint force integration.

Maj. Gen. William H. Swan relinquishes command of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to Maj. Gen. Ryan S. Rideout

1st Lt. John Graham — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 16:11:55 GMT

Maj. Gen. William H. Swan relinquishes command of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to Maj. Gen. Ryan S. Rideout

TUSWC Integrates Marine Corps into Undersea Operations During Atlantic Alliance 2025

Story courtesy of Submarine Group TWO (COMSUBGRU2) — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 20:27:00 GMT

NORFOLK — Building on experimentation during Fleet Battle Problem 2024, U.S. Marine Corps units are again stepping into the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) fight as part of an operational fleet exercise, supporting the Theater Undersea Warfare Commander (TUSWC), Commander, Submarine Group TWO (COMSUBGRU2).

VMFA-224 redesignates as Marine Corps’ newest F-35B squadron

Capt. Jacob Ballard — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 19:33:34 GMT

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 224 redesignated to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 during a change of command and redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, on Thursday.

Aviate, navigate, communicate: how one Marine Corps pilot’s bias for action saved a life

Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:18:00 GMT

The day was sunny and the roads were dry – ideal conditions for driving – as U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Willie Stewart drove his truck down Interstate 95. He was heading to Norfolk, Virginia, on May 17, 2025, to board a U.S. Navy ship that would take him to Fleet Week New York.

Marine Attack Squadron 231 completes final Harrier flight at Cherry Point

1st Lt. Duncan Stoner — Thu, 29 May 2025 21:00:43 GMT

Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 231, known as the "Ace of Spades," marked the end of an era with its final AV-8B Harrier II flight on Thursday, culminating decades of rich history and distinguished service with the iconic vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

1st Annual Wing Commanding General WTI Warfighting Summit

2nd Lt. Justice Nettles — Tue, 06 May 2025 13:50:35 GMT

The Commanding Generals of each of the four Marine Aircraft Wings visited Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) during Weapon and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-25, April 24-25, 2025.

2nd MAW leaders build the team at the April 2025 Senior Leaders Conference

1st Lt. John Graham — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:22:42 GMT

Last week, leaders from 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), Marine Corps Installations East, and II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) came together for three days aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina to participate in 2nd MAW’s April 2025 Senior Leaders Conference (SLC).

Demonstrating Excellence in Safety: 2nd MAW Sailor named U.S. Navy Aerospace and Operational Physiology Professional of the Year

Cpl. David Ornelasbaeza — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 19:30:00 GMT

The ice-cold breeze blew right into the face of Hospital Corpsman First Class (HM1) Robert Zaruba, a Florida native and Aeromedical Safety Corpsman (AMSC) with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), as he and a fellow corpsman stepped out from the parked commercial plane and into the Arctic Circle.

Impacting at every level: How one Lance Corporal’s innovation earned a Cowbell

Pfc. Gavin Kulczewski — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:58:46 GMT

The searing heat of Djibouti beat down around U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Steven Akridge, a Martinsville, Virginia, native and tactical air defense controller with Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). He stared at the inoperable air surveillance system, a critical piece of equipment for 2nd MAW’s tactical air defense control unit. Without it, operations could be delayed, and the unit's mission could have been placed in jeopardy.

2nd MAW units complete distributed aviation operations exercise in The Bahamas

1st Lt. John Graham — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:53:11 GMT

Units with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) completed an exercise focused on distributed aviation operations (DAO) near the U.S. Navy’s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) on Andros Island, Bahamas, Jan. 28 to Mar. 15.

VMFA-251 reactivates as Marine Corps’ first East Coast-based F-35C Lightning II squadron

1st Lt. Jacob Ballard — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 22:29:43 GMT

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), reactivated during a ceremony on Thursday aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, following a four-year, seven-month hiatus.

VMUT-2 conducts first MQ-9A Reaper flight aboard MCAS Cherry Point

1st Lt. John Graham — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:37:43 GMT

Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training Squadron (VMUT) 2, a subordinate unit of Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), conducted its first MQ-9A Reaper flight aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point today.

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing releases command investigation into F-35B Lightning II mishap in South Carolina on Sept. 17, 2023

2nd Lt. John Graham — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:59:00 GMT

The command investigation into the F-35B Lightning II mishap in South Carolina Sept. 17, 2023, has been completed by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) investigating officer and endorsed by the commanding general of 2nd MAW.

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing recognized for superior inspection performance with the General Friedrich von Steuben Superior Unit Performance Award

Cpl. Anakin Smith — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:52:00 GMT

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) was recognized with the inaugural General Friedrich von Steuben Superior Unit Performance Award for superior performance during the Comprehensive Command Inspection (CCI), conducted earlier this year by the Inspector General of the Marine Corps (IGMC).

VMFA-533 becomes first operational F-35 squadron aboard MCAS Beaufort to receive aircraft

2nd Lt. John Graham — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 22:17:30 GMT

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 533, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), received its first F-35B Lightning II jet today aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, South Carolina.