BIOGRAPHY
Colonel Gregory Marston was a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1978. He graduated from USAF pilot training in 1979. His first assignment was as a C-141B pilot at McGuire AFB, NJ. He volunteered and was assigned to Osan AB, Korea in 1981 as an OV-10 Forward Air Controller for a yearlong tour. In 1982, he flew the OA-37 while assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. He completed his Air Force career as an Instructor Pilot (IP) and Deputy Commander for the 602nd Tactical Air Support Wing Mission Training Unit, which trained all A-37 pilots in the USAF and for several foreign nations.
Colonel Marston joined the Pennsylvania Air Guard in March 1985 as an OA-37 pilot, 103rd Tactical Air Support Squadron, Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, PA. He continued as an IP in the OA-37, and then converted to the A-10, including IP duties for that aircraft. In 1985, he was hired by American Airlines as a Flight Officer. In 1992, he became a Captain at American Airlines on the Boeing 727; followed by captain upgrades to the Airbus A-300, the Boeing 757, 767, and finally the 777.
In 1994, he become the 103rd Fighter Squadron Operations Officer. He was the Operations Officer during a three-month Operation SOUTHERN WATCH deployment in 1995 at Al Jaber, AB, Kuwait, which was the wing’s first deployment to Southwest Asia. He became the Squadron Commander in 1997, commanded another Operation SOUTHERN WATCH deployment to Kuwait [flights over Iraq] in 1999, and then became the 111th Fighter Wing Operations Group Commander. In May 2001, Colonel Marston became the 111th Fighter Wing Vice Commander. From November 2002 through June 2003, he was the active-duty commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group (EOG), Bagram AB, Afghanistan. His group of active duty and ARC personnel provided A-10 Close Air Support (CAS), all airfield operations, cargo loading, base security, firefighting, and support operations during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The 455th was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor during his time as commander. He was Commander of the 111th Fighter Wing (A-10) at Willow Grove ARS, PA from Sept of 2004 until Sept of 2006. He assumed command of the 447th AEG (Air Expeditionary Group) at Sather AB, Iraq in Sept 2006. The 447th AEG was awarded the Meritorious Unit Award for its numerous achievements during his tenure.
He was the only USAF/ANG officer to command two major combat Air Bases / USAF Group in the GWOT (Global War on Terrorism). He returned in Feb 2007 to become the Director of Operations, PAANG (with over 4500 officers and enlisted personnel) and Chief of the J-5/7 office in the Joint Force Headquarters – PA until his retirement on 1 Aug 2008. He completed over 30 years of honorable service in the US Air Force and Air National Guard.
In 2018 he published his first book, “CRISIS IN BAGHDAD: Leadership in a Risk Adverse Environment”. He graduated from Norwich University, Vt, in 2019 with a Master’s degree in Military History. He is currently working on two books: “IN THE SHADOW OF THE HINDU KUSH” – a memoir of his command position and A-10 “Warthog” flying at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, and “WARTHOGS UNLEASHED” – a combat history of the A-10 from 1991-2021. He gives presentations, interviews and writes museum articles on aviation history, leadership, his combat flying experiences, and the Afghanistan War. He lives near Doylestown, PA, with his wife and Belgian Malinois, Khan.
Education:
1978 - Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1981 - Air-Ground Operations School, Hurlburt AFB, Florida
1989 - Squadron Officer School by correspondence & 1991 Air Force Electronic Combat Pilot School, Hurlburt AFB, Florida
1995 - Air Command and Staff College by correspondence
1999 - Air War College by correspondence
2002 - Air National Guard Senior Leadership Course then Instructor in 2003
2019 – Graduated from Norwich University, Vt – Masters of Art – Military History