2nd MAW is the Marine Corps’ service-retained ACE. Headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, 2nd MAW is permanently based at three Marine Corps Air Stations in North Carolina and South Carolina and serves as the ACE for II MEF. 2nd MAW is operationally focused and consists of professional and dedicated Marines, Sailors and civilians that provide combat-ready aviation forces to II MEF and the MAGTF commander. 2nd MAW generates and maintains combat readiness, increases lethality through modernization, generates operationally excellent aviation units, continuously refines warfighting concepts, and stands ready to forward deploy to meet any challenge around the globe.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 26-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 27, 2026. Red Flag-Alaska is an exercise designed to simulate complex scenarios in a realistic training environment, providing unique opportunities to integrate joint and coalition forces into multilateral training, enhancing our ability to respond to contingencies in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo)
U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing participate in simulated scenarios during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 26-1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, April 20, 2026. Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-led exercise designed to simulate complex scenarios in a realistic training environment, providing unique opportunities to integrate joint and coalition forces into multilateral training, enhancing our ability to respond to contingencies in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo)
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. Conference attendees included 2nd MAW’s O-6 and O-5 commanders, senior enlisted leaders, air station commanders who support 2nd MAW units, and 2nd MAW’s staff, who participated in a series of discussions about leadership, mentorship, and topics affecting both the Wing and the Marine Corps.
“Overall, I’m impressed with the work your teams are doing” said Maj. Gen. Ryan S. Rideout, 2nd MAW’s commanding general, during his remarks to conference participants. “This is a highly...
01.15.2026 | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
Story by Maj. Joseph Leitner
