Colonel Kevin “Wolfy” Iiams USMC graduated from the U.S Naval Academy in 1986 with a BS in Engineering and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the US Marine Corps.  Attending Flight School following The Basic School he was assigned to fly the FA-18 Hornet.  From 1990 to 1996 he completed tours in VMFA-451, “The Warlords” and VMFA-235 “The Death Angels” including combat missions in Desert Shield/ Desert Storm before being assigned as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) instructor, FA-18 tactics instructor and adversary pilot at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1. Following his tour at MAWTS-1, Colonel Iiams attended and graduated from the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College with a Masters Degree.  He was then assigned to the West Coast as Squadron Operations Officer, and Executive Officer for VMFA-232, “The Red Devils” and was subsequently assigned as the Operations Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 11.  In these billets he planned and flew combat missions while deployed in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Southern Watch, and Iraqi Freedom.

In August 2003 Colonel Iiams assumed Command of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, “The Bats”.  Under his command, the squadron was the first FA-18 squadron deployed to the remote Iraqi Airbase Al Asad, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom II.  During this deployment the “Bats” produced a record setting 3800 combat sorties and 8300 combat hours in just 9 months in support of the battle of Fallujah and operations in other areas of Iraq.  Upon return from combat, his squadron was recognized with the MCAA “Hanson Award” as the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the year.

In 2006, Colonel Iiams graduated from the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA with a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies, and received orders to USCENTCOM for Joint Duty in Tampa FL.  There he initially served in billets as the Battlestaff Exercise Branch Chief, and Chief of Operations for the Joint Operations Center.  In 2007 he was reassigned by the COCOM Commander as the Director J7, normally a General Officer billet, and was assigned responsibility for all training and exercises in the USCENTCOM AOR.

In July 2009 Colonel Iiams took Command of Marine Aircraft Group-41 located at NAS/ JRB Fort Worth, Texas. There he Commanded 7 units with 4 separate type/model/ series aircraft and validated the MAG HQ as a combat deployable ACE in the Corps largest exercise of 2011, JAVELIN THRUST.

Colonel Iiams reported to 2d MAW as the Standards Officer in August 2011 and served as the ACE Commander for 2d MAW in exercise BOLD ALLIGATOR.  In June 2012, he began the preparations for the stand-up of the OEF ACE for 2013 and was subsequently assigned as the AWC for the Headquarters of 2d MAW (FWD).

Colonel Iiams has over 3800 hours in tactical fighter aircraft, has flown 500 combat hours on 270 combat missions and holds every mission and instructor qualification in the FA-18.  His personal decorations include: The Defense Superior Service Medal, The Legion of Merit, The Bronze Star with Gold Star; The Meritorious Service Medal; The Air Medal with Gold Star, Combat “V”, and 17 Strike Flight Awards; The Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with 2 Gold Stars and Combat “V”; and The Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal.