U.S. Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing move cargo onto the Military Sealift Command Wright-class aviation logistics support ship SS Wright (T-AVB-3) during Exercise Carolina Dragon 25 at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Sept. 17, 2025. Carolina Dragon 25 is a 2nd MAW and Expeditionary Strike Group 2 exercise designed to validate and exercise the SS Wright’s capabilities and to prepare and confirm readiness for incorporation into future 2nd MAW exercises and contingency operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gavin K. Kulczewski)
U.S. Marines with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 and Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, from Oregon, deputy commandant of Combat Development and Integration (CD&I), conduct a flight operation with an AV-8B Harrier II at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Aug. 28, 2025. Austin visited Marines and Sailors from VMA-223 to gain insight on the internal workings of the squadron and observe maintainer and pilot proficiency and expertise with the Harrier. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Rowdy Vanskike)
Maj. Gen. William H. Swan relinquished command of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) to Maj. Gen. Ryan S. Rideout during a change of command ceremony held at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Thursday.  
The ceremony represented the formal transfer of responsibility and authority from Swan to Rideout. Lt. Gen. Calvert Worth, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force, presided over the ceremony.
“I have been extremely blessed, humbled and honored to serve 2nd MAW these past fifteen months,” said Swan. “I witnessed firsthand a commitment to mission excellence that I could not be more proud of. Early on, I tasked my commanders to be ready, to take care of their Marines, Sailors and families, and...
08.28.2025 | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, US |
Story by 1st Lt. John Graham
