NAS JRB - Fort Worth

NATIVE TEXAN COMES HOME AS NAS JRB FORT WORTH’S NEW COMMANDING OFFICER CAPTAIN MARK MCLEAN

I would like to take a moment and introduce myself to you and to tell you a little of my history and Navy background. But first, I have to say, I’m thrilled and also humbled to take command at the base where many years ago my vision as a Naval Aviator took root.

I’m a native of Bullard, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1997 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. I later went on to receive a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

After earning my Naval Aviator wings at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in 1999, I went on to serve operational assignments with the “Ironmen” of VQ-3 at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, from 2000 to 2003. There, I was an E-6A/B Mission Commander and Evaluator and an E-6A/B Instructor Pilot. Following that assignment, I remained at Tinker AFB from 2003 to 2006 to join the “Roughnecks” of VQ-7 as an E-6A/B Instructor Pilot, instructing student pilots in the E-6A/B, Boeing 737200 and Boeing 737-600 aircraft.

In 2006, I received orders to VR59 “Lone Star Express” right here at NAS JRB Fort Worth, where I was designated a C-40 (Boeing 737) Instructor Pilot, in addition to serving as one of the squadron’s Department Heads, while flying missions all over the world.

My staff assignments included tours on the staff of Fleet Logistics Support Wing also here at NAS JRB. In followon assignments, I would move my family to Washington D.C for duty as a Battle Watch Captain on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon from 2011-2014. And most recently, I completed a tour as Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training from 2017-2020.

I also had the honor of serving as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Navy Recruiting District Michigan and Indiana from 20142017. And throughout my Navy flying career, I have accumulated over 4,000 hours of flight time in various aircraft.

As I close for today, I want to again say that I’m excited to be back home in Texas and honored to be able to serve as NAS JRB’s Commanding Officer and that I look forward to being able to meet with many of you in the near future.

When we meet, I’ll share with you the background of how my dream to be a Naval Aviator started as a teenager on trips to see the Navy Blue Angels at Carswell Air Force Base airshows.

Until then. Warmest regards,