Lt. Col. Chris Pappas III assumed command of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 during a change-of-command ceremony here Jan 23.
Pappas succeeded Lt. Col. Douglas S. Mayer, who is remaining aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to serve with Marine Aircraft Group 12.
Prior to assuming command of the “Bats,” or VMFA(AW)-242, Pappas served here as the Marine Aircraft Group 12 Headquarters commanding officer. He also served as the executive officer for Weapons and Field Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and as the executive officer for VMFA(AW)-332 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pappas earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Duke University in 1990, followed by a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. in 2005. He also graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School in 2000 and was selected that same year as the Marine Naval Flight Officer of the Year.
During his 19 years of service, Pappas has earned the Air Medal Strike/Flight award with bronze numeral five, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat V and three gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.