Deputy Commandant for Aviation

{{Infobox official post

| post = Deputy Commandant For Aviation

| body =

| native_name = {{small|DCA}}

| flag =

| flagsize =

| flagcaption =

| image = LtGen Bradford J. Gering.jpg

| incumbent = Lieutenant General Bradford Gering

| incumbentsince = 16 February 2024

| department =

| member_of =

| reports_to = Commandant of the Marine Corps

| seat = The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.

| appointer = Commandant of the Marine Corps

| predecessor2 = Jon M. Davis

| successor2 = =

| formation =

| first = Alfred A. Cunningham

| succession =

| salary =

| deputy = Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation

| website = [https://www.aviation.marines.mil/]

}}

The Deputy Commandant for Aviation (DCA) is the United States Marine Corps' principal advisor on all aviation matters and is the spokesperson for Marine Corps Aviation programs, requirements, and strategy throughout the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense.{{cite web |url=https://www.aviation.marines.mil/ |title= Marine Aviation|last= |first= |date= |website=marines.mil |publisher=United States Marine Corps |access-date=20 January 2020 |quote=}} DCA is normally the highest-ranking naval aviator in the Marine Corps and reports directly to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The role of DCA is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States Marine Corps Aviation forces.

DCA tour lengths have varied over the years based on war time requirements and personnel turnover. For the last two decades, typical tour lengths have been approximately three years. The billet is normally held by a lieutenant general. DCA and Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation work out of The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia.

Responsibilities

The Deputy Commandant for Aviation is responsible for developing, integrating, and supervising plans, policies, and budgets for all aviation assets and aviation expeditionary enablers (aviation command and control, aviation-ground support, and unmanned aircraft systems) in support of Marine air ground task forces.{{r|DCA_Home}}

History

The Aviation Section, Headquarters Marine Corps was established in 1919. In charge initially was the Officer in Charge, Aviation. He was responsible to both the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Director of Naval Aviation for all Marine Corps related aviation matters. In 1920, Congress authorized Marine Corps Aviation to maintain a strength of approximately one-fifth the size of the Marine Corps. In 1936 the Aviation Section was renamed the Aviation Division and the billet was changed to the Director of Aviation.{{sfn|Rottman|2002|pp=384}} In 1962 the name was again changed to Deputy Chief of Staff (Air). The current moniker of Deputy Commandant for Aviation began in Jun 1998.{{sfn|Kaufman|2012|pp=315}}

List of Deputy Commandants for Aviation

class="wikitable sortable" ! rowspan=2\| # ! rowspan=2 class="unsortable"\|Picture ! rowspan=2\| Name ! rowspan=2\| Rank ! colspan=3\| Term ! rowspan=2 class="unsortable"\|Notes
Took office ! Left office ! Duration
1 \|100px \|CunninghamAlfred A. Cunningham{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=433}} \|O-04 Major \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1919\|November\|17}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1920\|December\|12}}}} \|{{ayd\|1919\|11\|17\|1920\|12\|12}} \|Naval Aviator #5.{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=314}} He was the first Marine Corps aviator.{{sfn \|Mersky\|1983 \|pp=2}} World War I.
2 \|100px \|TurnerThomas C. Turner{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=21}} \|O-05 Lieutenant colonel \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1920\|December\|13}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1925\|March\|2}}}} \|{{ayd\|1920\|12\|13\|1925\|03\|02}} \|Naval Aviator #772.{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=314}} Distinguished Flying Cross; served in the Philippines, at Veracruz and in Haiti. During WWI, at the request of Hap Arnold, served as the OinC of flying at the Army's Ellington Field.{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=19-21}}
3 \|100px \|BrainardEdwin H. Brainard{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=27}} \|O-04 Major \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1925\|March\|3}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1929\|May\|9}}}} \|{{ayd\|1925\|03\|03\|1929\|05\|09}} \|Naval Aviator #2982. Recipient of the Navy Cross for his actions during the Champagne Offensive in October 1918 while serving as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment.{{cite web \|url= https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/8584\|title= Edwin H. Brainard\|last= \|first= \|date= \|website=www.valor.militarytimes.com\|publisher=The Hall of Valor Project\|access-date= 20 January 2020 \|quote=}} Obtained the Marine Corps' first cargo plane in 1927.{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=27}}
4 \|100px \|TurnerThomas C. Turner{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=28}} \|O-06 Colonel \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1929\|May\|10}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1931\|October\|28}}}} \|{{ayd\|1929\|05\|10\|1931\|10\|28}} \|See #2 above. The nine day gap between Col Turner and Maj Geiger was due to Col Turner being killed by a whirling propeller blade in Haiti on 28 October 1928.
5 \|100px \|GeigerRoy Geiger{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=433}} \|O-04 Major \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1931\|November\|6}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1935\|May\|29}}}} \|{{ayd\|1931\|11\|06\|1935\|05\|29}} \|Naval Aviator #49.{{sfn \|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=314}} Two time recipient of the Navy Cross. Served as the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during the Battle of Guadalcanal{{sfn\|Willock\|1968\|pp=202–239}} and Commanding General of the III Marine Amphibious Corps during the Battle of Okinawa. Also the only Marine to ever command a field army when he temporarily took command of the Tenth Army after the death of Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.{{sfn\|Willock\|1968\|pp=302–303}}
6 \|100px \|RowellRoss E. Rowell{{cite web \|url= https://pioneersofflight.si.edu/content/ross-rowell/\|title= Ross Rowell\|last= \|first= \|date= \|website=www.pioneersofflight.si.edu \|publisher=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum \|access-date= 20 January 2020 \|quote=}} \|O-06 Colonel \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1935\|May\|30}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1939\|March\|10}}}} \|{{ayd\|1935\|05\|30\|1939\|03\|10}} \|Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross; Served in Nicaragua and flew at the Battle of Ocotal,{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=24-27}} was Commanding General, Marine Aircraft Wings Pacific during World War II.
7 \|100px \|MitchellRalph J. Mitchell{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=433}} \|O-07Brigadier General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1939\|March\|11}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1943\|March\|29}}}} \|{{ayd\|1939\|03\|11\|1943\|03\|29}} \|Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals; Distinguished Flying Cross from Nicaraguan Campaign.
8 \|100px \|GeigerRoy Geiger{{sfn\|Willock\|1968\|pp=240}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1943\|May\|13}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1943\|October\|15}}}} \|{{ayd\|1943\|05\|13\|1943\|10\|15}} \|See #5 above.
9 \|100px \|WoodsLouis E. Woods{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=433}} \|O-07Brigadier General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1943\|October\|15}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1944\|July\|17}}}} \|{{ayd\|1943\|10\|15\|1944\|07\|17}} \|Veteran Guadalcanal Campaign, veteran Okinawa Campaign, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
10 \|100px \|HarrisField Harris{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=433}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1944\|July\|18}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1948\|February\|24}}}} \|{{ayd\|1944\|07\|18\|1948\|02\|24}} \|Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; Lieutenant general; Navy and Army Distinguished Service Medals
11 \|100px \|WallaceWilliam J. Wallace{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=433}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1948\|February\|24}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1950\|September\|01}}}} \|{{ayd\|1948\|02\|24\|1950\|09\|01}} \|Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Guadalcanal Campaign & Battle of Okinawa
12 \|100px \|JeromeClayton C. Jerome{{sfn\|Sherrod\|1952\|pp=433}} \|O-07Brigadier General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1950\|September\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1952\|April\|1}}}} \|{{ayd\|1950\|09\|01\|1952\|04\|01}} \|Retired at Lieutenant General; Commanded both 1st and 2d MAW; veteran of Nicaraguan Campaign, Yangtze Patrol, Solomon Islands campaign, Bougainville campaign, Philippines campaign and the Korean War.
13 \|100px \|BriceWilliam O. Brice{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1952\|April\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1955\|July\|31}}}} \|{{ayd\|1952\|04\|01\|1955\|07\|31}} \|Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Veteran of World War II, having fought at Guadalcanal, and the Korea; also served as Commanding General of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
14 \|100px \|SchiltChristian F. Schilt{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1955\|August\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1957\|March\|31}}}} \|{{ayd\|1955\|08\|01\|1957\|03\|31}} \|Medal of Honor; General; Veteran World War I, United States occupation of Haiti, United States occupation of Nicaragua, and World War II{{cite web \|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-people/s/schilt-christian-f.html\|title=Schilt, Christian F.\|last= \|first= \|date= \|website=www.history.navy.mil\|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command \|access-date=20 January 2020 \|quote=}}
15 \|100px \|McCaulVerne J. McCaul{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1957\|April\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1957\|December\|2}}}} \|{{ayd\|1957\|04\|01\|1957\|12\|02}} \|Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Veteran World War II and Korean War.{{cite web \|url= https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Mackie-Ozbourn/Lieutenant-General-Verne-J-McCaul/\|title= Lieutenant General Verne James McCaul, USMC (Deceased)\|last= \|first= \|date= \|website=www.usmcu.edu \|publisher=Marine Corps University \|access-date= 20 January 2020 \|quote=}}
16 \|100px \|JackSamuel S. Jack{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1958\|January\|14}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1958\|February\|20}}}} \|{{ayd\|1958\|01\|14\|1958\|02\|20}} \|Veteran Nicaraguan Campaign, World War II and Korean War; Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy; Recipient of the Navy Cross
17 \|100px \|MunnJohn C. Munn{{cite encyclopedia \|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=6231 \|title=John Calvin Munn (1906–1986) \|author=John H. Hesterly \|encyclopedia=The Central Arkansas Library System – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net \|date=November 8, 2010 \|access-date=20 January 2020}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1958\|February\|21}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1959\|December\|14}}}} \|{{ayd\|1958\|02\|21\|1959\|12\|14}} \|Silver Star; Guadalcanal Campaign & Battle of Okinawa; Korean War
18 \|100px \|BinneyAlbert F. Binney{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1959\|December\|15}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1961\|September\|10}}}} \|{{ayd\|1959\|12\|15\|1961\|09\|10}} \|Veteran World War II and Korean War; commanding general 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing; graduate U.S. Naval Academy in 1928;
19 \|100px \|McCutcheonKeith B. McCutcheon{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-06 Colonel \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1961\|September\|11}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1962\|February\|17}}}} \|{{ayd\|1961\|09\|11\|1962\|02\|17}} \|General; Distinguished Flying Cross; Army Silver Star Medal; Commanding Officer Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1); commanding general, III Marine Amphibious Force; McCutcheon Field at MCAS New River, North Carolina is named in his honor.{{cite web\|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/kbmccutcheon.htm\|title=Keith B. McCutcheon\|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery\|accessdate=20 January 2020}}
20 \|100px \|CarlMarion E. Carl{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-06 Colonel \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1962\|February\|18}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1962\|July\|04}}}} \|{{ayd\|1962\|02\|18\|1962\|07\|04}} \|Twice awarded the Navy Cross; Battle of Midway & Guadalcanal Campaign; Vietnam War{{Cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/30/us/maj-gen-marion-e-carl-82-marine-air-ace-in-world-war-ii.html\|title=Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, 82, Marine Air Ace in World War II\|last=Goldstein\|first=Richard\|date=1998-06-30\|work=The New York Times\|access-date=2018-05-13\|language=en-US\|issn=0362-4331}}
21 \|100px \|AndersonNorman J. Anderson{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-07Brigadier General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1962\|July\|5}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1963\|October\|20}}}} \|{{ayd\|1962\|07\|05\|1963\|10\|20}} \|Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Flying Cross with three gold stars; Air Medal with two silver stars; graduate UCLA
22 \|100px \|RobertshawLouis B. Robertshaw{{r\|robertshaw}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1963\|October\|21}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1966\|June\|15}}}} \|{{ayd\|1963\|10\|21\|1966\|06\|15}} \|Graduate U.S. Naval Academy; captain of the 1935 Naval Academy football team; Inspector General of the Marine Corps{{cite web \|url= https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Whos-Who-in-Marine-Corps-History/Paige-Russell/Lieutenant-General-Louis-Bentham-Robertshaw/\|title= Lieutenant General Louis B. Robertshaw\|last= \|first= \|date= \|website=www.usmcu.edu \|publisher=Marine Corps University \|access-date= 20 January 2020 \|quote=}}
23	100px \|McCutcheonKeith B. McCutcheon{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1966\|June\|15}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1970\|February\|18}}}} \|{{ayd\|1966\|06\|15\|1970\|02\|18}} \|See #19 above.
24 \|100px \|HillHomer S. Hill{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1970\|February\|19}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1972\|August\|24}}}} \|{{ayd\|1970\|02\|19\|1972\|08\|24}} \|See #19 above.
25 \|100px \|FrisEdward S. Fris{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1972\|August\|25}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1974\|August\|27}}}} \|{{ayd\|1972\|08\|25\|1974\|08\|27}} \|Lieutenant general; Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; pioneer in the development of today's Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS).
26 \|100px \|ShutlerPhilip D. Shutler{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-07Brigadier General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1974\|August\|28}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1975\|January\|19}}}} \|{{ayd\|1974\|08\|28\|1975\|01\|19}} \|Lieutenant general; Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War.
27 \|100px \|ArmstrongVictor A. Armstrong{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-08 Major General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1975\|January\|20}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1975\|August\|21}}}} \|{{ayd\|1975\|01\|20\|1975\|08\|21}} \|Lieutenant general; Veteran World War II; Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and 2 gold stars; Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star
28 \|100px \|MillerThomas H. Miller Jr.{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1975\|August\|22}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1979\|June\|29}}}} \|{{ayd\|1975\|08\|22\|1979\|06\|29}} \|First American to fly the Hawker Siddeley Harrier.{{cite web \|url=https://goefoundation.org/eagles/miller-thomas-h/ \|title= Thomas H. Miller\|last= \|first= \|date= \|website= goefoundation.org\|publisher= \|access-date= 20 January 2020\|quote=}}
29 \|100px \|WhiteWilliam J. White{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1979\|July\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1982\|June\|30}}}} \|{{ayd\|1979\|07\|01\|1982\|06\|30}} \|Veteran Korean War, and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Distinguished Flying Cross
30 \|100px \|FitchWilliam H. Fitch{{cite web \|url=http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1484\|title= William H. Fitch\|last= \|first= \|date= \|website= veterantributes.org\|publisher= \|access-date= 20 January 2020\|quote=}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1982\|July\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1984\|August\|31}}}} \|{{ayd\|1982\|07\|01\|1984\|08\|31}} \|Lieutenant general; Silver Star Medal
31 \|File:Lieutenant General Keith A. Smith.jpg \|SmithKeith A. Smith{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1984\|September\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1988\|April\|29}}}} \|{{ayd\|1984\|09\|01\|1988\|04\|29}} \|Lieutenant general; Distinguished Flying Cross
32 \|100px \|PitmanCharles H. Pitman{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1995\|July\|1}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1999\|June\|30}}}} \|{{ayd\|1995\|07\|01\|1999\|06\|30}} \|Lieutenant general; Silver Star Medal
33 \|100px \|WillsDuane A. Wills{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1990\|August\|17}}}} \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1993\|June\|30}}}} \|{{ayd\|1990\|08\|17\|1993\|06\|30}} \|Lieutenant general; Veteran Vietnam War; Distinguished Flying Cross; lettered in football at UCLA;
34 \|100px \|HearneyRichard D. Hearney{{sfn\|Kaufman\|2012\|pp=315}} \|O-09 Lieutenant General \|{{nowrap\|{{dts\|format=dmy\|1993\|July\|1

class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan=2| #

! rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Picture

! rowspan=2| Name

! rowspan=2| Rank

! colspan=3| Term

! rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Notes

Took office

! Left office

! Duration

Deputy Commandant for Aviation

Responsibilities

History

List of Deputy Commandants for Aviation

=Timeline=

Citations

References