Colonel John K. Faircloth, JR.

Col Faircloth was raised in Grady, Alabama and graduated from Troy State University in 1988 with a degree in Mathematics.

He was commissioned a 2ndLt in December 1988, and was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1991. After completing HMT-302, in March 1991 at MCAS Tustin, CA, he was transferred to HMH-463, MAG-24, MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI.

1stLt Faircloth's was attached to HMH-463 from March 1992 through December 1996. He participated in Joint Task Force - Full Accounting in 1993, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

In November 1996, Capt Faircloth was transferred to HMX-1 in Quantico, Virginia. Captain Faircloth performed duties as Green Side Airframes Officer and Operations Duty Officer. He held the jobs of Cage Airframes Officer and Cage Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer. His flight designations were VH-60 and VH-3 Standardization Pilot, White Side FCP, and Presidential Command Pilot.

In December 2000, Major Faircloth was transferred to Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic, Little Creek Naval Base, for further transfer to the USS Bataan as the Air Operations Officer. In September 2001, he deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf with the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th MEU in support of Operation Enduring Freedom I.

In June 2002, Major Faircloth reported to HMH-302, MAG-29 for refresher training in the CH-53E Super Stallion, and in July 2002 was transferred to HMH-464 as the Operations Officer and subsequently deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom I in Jan 2003.

In October 2003, Major Faircloth assumed the duties as the Executive Officer of HMH-464 and in June 2004 was transferred to be the Executive Officer of MAG-29 until June 2005.

Lieutenant Colonel Faircloth served as the Executive Officer, HMH-462 from 15 July to 2 Dec 2005. Lieutenant Colonel Faircloth commanded HMH-462 from 2 Dec 2005 to 14 June 2007.

Lieutenant Colonel Faircloth transferred to HQ USSOCOM in July 2007 to serve as the Joint Personnel Recovery Officer in the J3X Branch, and deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan from Dec 2007 through April 2008 serving as the TF-373 Liaison to RC South.

In June 2009 Lieutenant Colonel Faircloth transferred to the USAF Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL, earning a Masters of Strategic Studies upon graduation in May 2010.

Colonel Faircloth reported to II MEF during July 2010 and served as the II MEF G-3 Current Operations Officer until 3 December. He reported to HMX-1 on 6 December 2010.

Colonel Faircloth's decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold Star, Air Medal with one star, V and numeral 5, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.