The Evolution of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing: Leadership Perspectives Over the Past Two Decades

I have had the privilege of visiting 2nd Marine Air Wing in North Carolina since 2009.

But my first introduction to them was when I flew from the Pentagon on an Osprey in 2007 to land on the HMS Illustrious.

Next year I will publish a book bringing together the discussions on my various visits which provide a picture of the activities of the 2nd MAW during that time and have chosen for the cover photo of the book my picture of an Osprey landing on the deck of the British warship.

The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing has been at the forefront of Marine Corps aviation innovation.

Through interviews with its commanding generals spanning from 2011 to 2025, we can trace the evolution of this vital combat force as it adapted to changing threats, integrated new technologies, and maintained its core mission of supporting Marines on the ground.

From the early adoption of the revolutionary MV-22 Osprey to the integration of the F-35B Lightning II, 2nd MAW has consistently transformed itself while upholding its primary mission: supporting the Marine rifleman at the point of the spear.

2025: Major General Swan’s Vision – “Be Ready. Take Care of Our People. Find More Cowbell.”

Under the current leadership of Major General William Swan, 2nd MAW continues to prioritize readiness while embracing modernization. Swan’s straightforward priorities—”Be ready. Take care of our people. Find more cowbell”—encapsulate his leadership philosophy.

The “more cowbell” reference, inspired by a Saturday Night Live skit, represents Swan’s approach to innovation. He rewards Marines who develop innovative solutions to persistent problems with actual cowbells, creating a culture that celebrates creative problem-solving. Since implementing this program, Swan has awarded over forty cowbells to deserving Marines.

Swan has overseen significant milestones in 2nd MAW’s aircraft modernization, including progress with F-35 squadrons and the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter program. VMFA-542 has become fully operational, while VMFA-251 received its first F-35C deliveries in late 2024, and VMFA-533 received its first F-35Bs in October.

The CH-53K program has made impressive strides, demonstrating its enhanced lift capacity and fly-by-wire technology. At a recent Service Level Training Exercise, the CH-53K lifted a fully combat-loaded Light Armored Vehicle for the first time, showcasing its capabilities to ground combat Marines.

Swan emphasizes the use of predictive maintenance and artificial intelligence to revolutionize aircraft maintenance. By leveraging aircraft sensor data and AI, 2nd MAW aims to predict component failures before they occur, shifting from unscheduled to scheduled maintenance.

2024: Major General Benedict’s Nordic Strategy

Major General Scott Benedict, Swan’s predecessor, focused on strengthening relationships with Nordic allies, particularly following Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO. This shift expanded 2nd MAW’s focus from primarily supporting Norway to working with all Nordic forces.

Benedict highlighted how the Marines could operate from land within the Nordic defense network to support the fleet. This capability is unique to the USMC—a significant force that can operate from land to sea and from sea to land.

The 2nd MAW’s participation in the Nordic Response 2024 exercise demonstrated these concepts, with the wing bringing its first squadron of F-35s to exercise alongside Norwegian F-35s and other allied aircraft.

Benedict emphasized the difference between distributed operations (DO) and simply setting up Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs). True distributed operations involve comprehensive planning about location selection, logistics, protection, and mobility.

To address these complexities, 2nd MAW added a Distributed Operations Coordination Cell to its Tactical Air Command Center, responsible for planning and coordinating all aviation ground support necessary for an Air Tasking Order in a distributed environment.

2021: Lieutenant General Cederholm’s Focus on Readiness

When Lieutenant General Cederholm led 2nd MAW in 2021, he prioritized readiness, highlighting that the wing was approaching readiness levels “that have not been seen in decades.” Sometimes reaching 73% of all assets being flown, this achievement was crucial for the wing’s ability to “fight today.”

Cederholm outlined four key priorities: increasing readiness rates by adding more combat depth, driving more lethality into training and readiness manuals, focusing on force preservation and development, and aligning with the 2030 force design effort.

He emphasized the need to reshape training to better position the Wing for future conflicts, moving beyond operations focused on the Middle East to prepare for peer competitors. This shift required writing new Training and Readiness manuals that would train for evolving missions.

Cederholm also highlighted the importance of rethinking how to use new platforms like the F-35. Rather than simply inserting the F-35 into existing operating concepts, he argued for revising those concepts based on the capabilities the F-35 brings.

2020:  Lieutenant General Cederholm’s Vision for Naval Integration

In 2020, Lieutenant General Cederholm focused on the Marine Corps’ changing role in naval operations, describing it as a “naval expeditionary force-in-readiness in support of fleet operations.”

He emphasized readiness as the baseline for operational realities, stressing the importance of fully mission-capable aircraft rather than simply available aircraft. “The metric that matters to me is the availability of fully mission capable aircraft, not simply availability of an aircraft,” Cederholm stated.

On the training side, the focus was on the need for Marines to be prepared to work the shift between being a force supporting a command or becoming the lead element in an operation. This problem-solving flexibility became a key theme at 2nd MAW.

2014:  Lieutenant General Hedelund on the Challenges of Innovation

In 2014, Lieutenant General Hedelund reflected on the lengthy process of innovation, using his personal experience with the MV-22 Osprey as an example. From first hearing about the aircraft in 1985 to seeing the first prototype in 1988, to finally flying it at MAWTS-1 in 2006, Hedelund’s career paralleled the Osprey’s development.

Hedelund emphasized that innovation is blended with a combat culture that “innovates for a purpose—to succeed in difficult circumstances.” He noted that with the Osprey, Marines were “thinking in big chunks of operational space and figuring out how to operate more effectively within the expanded battlespace.”

Looking forward to the F-35B, Hedelund predicted it would blend three outstanding communities: the expeditionary basing expertise of Harrier pilots, the electronic warfare capabilities of Prowler pilots, and the multi-role approach of F-18 pilots.

2012: Lieutenant General Walters on Afghanistan Operations

Following his time as commander of air operations for 2nd MAW (Forward) in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Walters discussed how air operations had evolved to support ground forces.

Walters highlighted the impact of the MV-22 Osprey in Afghanistan, noting that its speed and range changed the operational equation. The Taliban had an effective early warning system to track conventional helicopters, which they called names like “Fat Cows” for the CH-53s, but “they did not talk much about the Osprey because they were so quick and lethal.”

The Osprey’s ability to approach from unexpected directions and operate effectively at night made it a game-changer in Afghanistan. Walters also noted that despite operating in a difficult environment, only two V-22s were hit by enemy fire during his year there, while “every other helicopter, including the British, was hit frequently.”

2011-2012:  Lieutenant General Davis on Bold Alligator and the Evolving ARG

Lieutenant General “Dog” Davis provided insights into the evolution of the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the impact of new aircraft systems, particularly after the Bold Alligator 2012 exercise.

Davis emphasized how the MV-22 Osprey had “stretched the ARG-MEU” and become the “critical lynchpin for an ESG-MEB operation.” During Bold Alligator, the Osprey demonstrated that Marines could “operate at the range and depth of a MEB-sized ESG” and “project power deep in the enemy’s battlespace.”

Looking toward the future, Davis described his experience seeing the F-35 combat systems in operation on the BAC1-11 during the exercise. He observed that while current Harriers had sensors with a range of 40-50 miles and limited to using one sensor at a time, the F-35 provided “exponentially greater ability to scan and ‘see’ the battlespace with exponentially greater fidelity than ever before.”

Davis summarized the core mission of Marine aviation: “For us, it is the lance corporal, the point of the spear, that is our focal point… At the end of the day if that kid needs support, he’s going to get it. We might lose airplanes; but he’s going to get support.”

The Consistent Thread: Supporting the Marine on the Ground

Throughout the past decade and a half, 2nd MAW has undergone significant transformations in capabilities, operations, and leadership. Yet one theme remains constant across all commanding generals: the unwavering commitment to supporting Marines on the ground.

As Lieutenant General Davis put it in 2012: “The Marine ACE exists for one reason, to make our Marines better fighters. When we improve the ACE’s capability to fight—we increase the warfighting effectiveness of our riflemen.”

From the revolutionary impact of the Osprey to the game-changing potential of the F-35B, from operations in Afghanistan to exercises in the Nordic region, 2nd MAW continues to evolve while staying true to its fundamental purpose: making Marines on the ground more effective and keeping them alive in combat.

As Major General Swan leads 2nd MAW into the future, his focus on readiness, personnel care, and innovation through the “cowbell” philosophy continues this proud tradition while preparing for the challenges of modern warfare.

Featured image: U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Marcus B. Annibale, right, commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. William H. Swan, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, visit Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) during the 1st Annual Wing Commanding General Summit at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, April 24, 2025. This marks the first summit intended to update briefs on high-end tactics, Department of Defense capabilities, and provide WTI course updates relevant to future conflicts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin G. Rivas)

Note: And next year: