Lieutenant Colonel Shawn J. Hughes
Commanding Officer, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, MCAS New River
Lieutenant Colonel Hughes enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 1984, completed recruit training at MCRD San Diego, then served as a radio repairman before attending Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana through the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program – commissioning in May, 1994.
He winged as a Naval Aviator in November of 1996, completed UH-1N pilot training at Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 in Camp Pendleton, California in the spring of 1997 and received orders to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina. During this tour, he served in a variety of squadron billets, diligently worked to become proficient in piloting the Huey, attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course, and completed operational deployments.
In June of 2002, Captain Hughes reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, Arizona. During this tour he served as an instructor for multiple WTI classes, and deployed to fly missions in Iraq.
Following his MAWTS-1 tour, Major Hughes served as the Air Officer for the Urban Warfare Training Center and then returned to the Gunrunners from the fall of 2005 to the summer of 2008 completing multiple operational deployments back to Iraq.
Major Hughes graduated from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College with a Master of Military Studies degree in 2009 with follow-on orders to United States Joint Forces Commands Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) in Suffolk, VA. While assigned to the JECC, LtCol Hughes completed an extended deployment back to Afghanistan.
In June of 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes reported to Marine Aircraft Group 29 with follow-on orders to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 as the Warriors incoming commander.
His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Combat V and Strike/Flight Numeral 14, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars, the Joint Service Achievement Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal.
Lieutenant Colonel Timothy A Kolb
Commanding Officer – May 2010-Nov 2011, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, MCAS New River
Lieutenant Colonel Kolb graduated from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May, 1990. After The Basic School, he was assigned to flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and was winged as a Naval Aviator in October of 1992.
In May of 1993, First Lieutenant Kolb completed UH-1N pilot training at Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 in Camp Pendleton, California, and received orders to Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina. During this tour, he served in a variety of billets in the Operations and Maintenance departments, attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course at MAWTS-1, and deployed to the Mediterranean twice with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit.
In June of 1998, Captain Kolb reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, Arizona. He held the billets of UH-1N Division Head, Final Exercise Coordinator, and attended the Tactical Air Control Party Course.
Major Kolb returned to the fleet in July of 2001, serving as the Operations Officer, Tactics Officer, and Intelligence Officer for Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 at MCAS New River. In January of 2003, he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM aboard the USS Saipan.
In 2004, Major Kolb graduated with distinction from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College with a Master of Military Studies degree. He was then assigned as a speechwriter in the Commandant’s Staff Group in the Pentagon, assuming the duties of Director in 2006.
In July of 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Kolb reported to 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) in Al Asad, Iraq, for duty as a Battle Captain in the Tactical Air Command Center. Returning to MCAS New River in 2008, he served as the Marine Aircraft Group 29 Operations Officer until June of 2009 when he assumed the duties of Executive Officer. He assumed command of the Warriors of HML/A-167 in May of 2010.
His personal decorations include the Air Medal with Combat V and Strike/Flight Numeral 9, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars and Combat V.