Lieutenant Colonel Brian W. Cavanaugh - Director, CMC Safety Division
Lieutenant Colonel Cavanaugh is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt of Marines in 1990. After “The Basic School”, he proceeded to NAS Pensacola for flight training and earned his aviator wings in December 1992. He was then transferred to HMT-302, MCAS Tustin, California for training in the CH 53E.
Joining HMH-462 in September 1993, LtCol Cavanaugh served as the Logistics and Intelligence Officer and finally, before transferring in the summer of 1997, he was the Operations Officer. During his time in the squadron, he completed two tours to Okinawa Japan serving twice with the 31st MEU (SOC).
In July of 1997, Lieutenant Colonel Cavanaugh was transferred to the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia where he was as a student, and following graduation, was assigned to the staff at the Officer Candidate School (OCS) where he led the Leadership Department. Following his tour he was next assigned to HMH-362.
LtCol Cavanaugh’s next assignment was at HMX-1 in Quantico, VA where he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and flew the VH-3D, VH-60N and the CH-53E. After completing this tour, Lieutenant Colonel Cavanaugh served as the Aide-de-Camp to the 27th and 28th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). LtCol Cavanaugh next transferred back to Hawaii and assumed command of the “Ugly Angels.” During his command tour, LtCol Cavanaugh deployed his squadron to Iraq and participated in combat operations in support of the multi-national forces Iraq. Subsequently after his return, his unit was recognized as the Marine Corps Aviation Association Squadron of the Year. LtCol Cavanaugh was next assigned to the Joint Staff and served as the Joint Doctrine Branch Chief and as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Director of the Joint Staff. After completing his joint assignment, he was selected by the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps to assume the duties as the Director of the USMC Safety Division. He was most recently slated for assignment as the next Commander of MAG 36 in Okinawa, Japan.
LtCol Cavanaugh earned his Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering from The United States Naval Academy, his MBA from Webster University and his Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He is also a MIT Seminar XX1 Fellow. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars in lieu of Second and Third Awards, the Air Medal with numeral 5, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Presidential Service and Joint Staff Badges.