Photo By Cpl. Rashaun X. James | (Left) Incoming Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 commanding officer Lt....... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Lt. Col. David A. Suggs relinquished his duties as commanding officer of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 to Lt. Col. Marlin C. Benton during a change of command ceremony in the squadron’s hangar, July 16.
The ceremony featured a performance by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band and culminated in the traditional passing of the unit colors from the outgoing to the incoming commanding officer.
Col. R.A.C. Sanborn, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 14, spoke briefly about his experiences with outgoing commanding officer, Suggs.
“It has been a pure joy watching the way this squadron has operated under Col. Suggs’ leadership,” said Sanborn. “He has definitely made my job easier by continuously challenging the status quo.”
Suggs reciprocated Sanborn’s heartfelt speech with one of his own, thanking his former boss and the Marines he led while with the squadron.
“I want to thank Sanborn for being there for guidance and resources whenever I needed them,” Suggs said. “Each and every one of the individuals I’ve met during the 18 months I have been here has influenced what I do. This is an unbelievable squadron. Colonel Sanborn said I made his job easier, but all of you Marines have made my job easier as well.”
However, despite assistance from the MAG-14 staff, Suggs’ faced a unique challenge commanding the Seahawks while they were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his tour, Suggs was tasked with introducing the Improved Capability III system in the EA-6B Prowler.
“We weren’t just flying missions over there,” Suggs said. “We were doing across-the-board training, as well as fielding a new aircraft and still had 100 percent success on every mission.”
Benton gave the closing comments but kept his remarks brief in consideration of the two platoons of Marines standing in formation behind him in the sweltering July heat.
“I’m looking forward to taking this new aircraft forward and changing electronic warfare,” Benton said. “To the Marines behind me, I look forward to serving alongside you in the coming months.”
Suggs will report to the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., following his detachment from VMAQ-4.
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2010 12:25 |
| Story ID: | 53224 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 595 |
| Downloads: | 119 |
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