Marine Corps Colonel Makes History as Navy Leader

SAN DIEGO - Marine Corps Col. Douglas P. Yurovich made history as the first Marine aviator ever to assume command of a Navy Carrier Air Wing (CVW 9), during a ceremony aboard USS Midway Jan. 19. Yurovich relieved Navy Capt. Michael Spence, who will next serve as the assistant chief of staff for plans and policy at Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain. CVW 9, also known as the Shogun Strike Team, is sited in Lemoore, Calif.

"I'm honored to be taking over Carrier Air Wing 9 and representing the Marine Corps. I believe I'm representing all of the Marines who have ever served on carrier strike groups," said Yurovich, who had served as deputy commander of CVW 9 since August 2004. "I found out 37 months ago that I was selected for this job and now I'm finally taking command."

Commissioned in 1979, the Marine Corps veteran has served at several duty stations including Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. in 1980 for initial flight training and as chief staff officer of CVW 1 aboard USS America (CV 66) in 1995. He now heads CVW 9's 2,000 personnel and nine squadrons stationed on bases along the West Coast.

Yurovich is "the exact right guy at the right time for this job" said guest speaker, Vice Adm. James M. Zortman, commander of Naval Air Forces. "A lot of people want to make a big deal about the fact that the person stepping into this job is a Marine. The Navy and Marine Corps team is more integrated than ever. This is not new on any level."

CVW 9 recently completed an around-the-world deployment in July 2005 as part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group. The air wing completed many training missions, as well as, raided an enemy insurgent location near Baghdad in April 2005. As the 49th commander of CVW 9, Yurovich said he would help maintain the standards of war fighting his predecessors have already established.

"We were in OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom), we took the fight to the enemy and we went to battle the war on terror," Yurovich said. "Air Wing 9 will continue to train to be ready and to be combat ready to fall upon to support the global war on terror."

CVW-9 is comprised of: VFA-146 "Blue Diamonds," VFA-147 "Argonauts," VFA-154 "Black Knights," VMFA-323 "Death Rattlers," VAW-112 "GoldenHawks," VAQ-138 "Yellowjackets," VS-33 "Screwbirds," and HS-8 "Eightballers." During operations at sea, CVW-9 is augmented by detachment from VRC-30 "Providers."

Marine Corps Col. Douglas P. Yurovich assumes command of Navy Carrier Air Wing, CVW 9, during a ceremony aboard USS Midway (CV 41). Yurovich makes military history as the first Marine aviator to assume command of a Navy carrier air wing. Yurovich relieved Capt. Michael Spence, who will next serve as the assistant chief of staff for plans and policies at Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Bahrain. Official U.S. Navy by PH3 Timothy F. Sosa

Col. Douglas P. Yurovich

U.S. Marine Corps

Commander
Carrier Air Wing NINE

Colonel Douglas Paul Yurovich USMC entered the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Class program in December 1975. Graduating from The Ohio State University in June 1979, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, with a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate. Commissioned in June 1979, he completed The Basic School in December 1979.

2ndLt Yurovich was assigned to TACP training at Little Creek, Virginia and was ordered to the 1stBn 8th Marine Regiment as a Forward Air Controller. In July 1980, he reported to NAS Pensacola for flight training, and received his wings at NAS Beeville, Texas in September 1981. 1stLt Yurovich reported to VMFAT 101 at MCAS Yuma, Arizona for F-4 Phantom conversion training. In March 1983, 1stLt Yurovich reported to MAG 31 and was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312. He was promoted to Captain on 1 December 1983. During his three plus years with the "CHECKERBOARDS" he completed two western pacific tours and was a forward air controller for the 3dBn 4th Marine Regiment. Also during this tour, he was designated an Air Combat Tactics Instructor, a Weapons and Tactics Instructor and graduated from the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN).

In June 1986, Capt Yurovich transferred to VFA 125 In Lemoore, California for transition to the F/A-18 Hornet. In December 1986, Capt Yurovich was assigned as an Instructor Pilot and a member of the F/A-18D Hornet Introduction Team. During his tour at 125, Capt Yurovich served as a schedules officer; strike phase head, assistant training officer, low altitude tactics training manager, and Instructor Pilot Orientation Course Manager. In 1988, Capt Yurovich was named the Instructor Pilot of the Year for the "ROUGH RAIDERS" of VFA 125. In June 1989, Capt Yurovich was selected to attend the United States Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, MD. After completing test pilot training in June 1990, Capt Yurovich was assigned as the F/A-18 Division Officer and Ordnance Project Officer in the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. Promoted to Major on the first of July 1991, Major Yurovich also served as the Safety Officer for the Marine Aviation Detachment at Patuxent River, MD. In October 1991, Major Yurovich was awarded the William Oxley Thompson Alumni Award from The Ohio State University for distinctive career professional achievement. In June 1992, he was awarded the Captain Stephen Hazelrigg Award for test team excellence. In December 1992, he completed the requirements for a Masters of Science Degree in Aviation Systems Engineering from the University of Tennessee.

He completed his tour at Patuxent River as the Ordnance Department Head, Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. In July 1993, Major Yurovich was transferred to MAG-31 and assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 as the "THUNDERBOLT" Executive Officer. In September 1995, Major Yurovich was assigned to Carrier Air Wing One as the Chief Staff Officer on board the USS America (CV 66) during their Mediterranean deployment. In July 1996, Major Yurovich was transferred to MCCDC, Quantico, VA and was assigned as a student to the Command and Staff College. On the first of October 1996, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In June 1997, LtCol Yurovich earned a Masters Degree in Military Studies and graduated from the Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA.

In July 1997, LtCol Yurovich returned to MAG 31 and was subsequently assigned as the Director of Safety and Standardization, Marine Aircraft Group 31. On June 12, 1998, LtCol Yurovich assumed command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, South Carolina. After a successful command of twenty-three months, with another Mediterranean deployment this time on board the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), LtCol Yurovich relinquished command on 18 May 2000 and proceeded to the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania as a member of Class 2001. On 9 June 2001, LtCol Yurovich graduated from the United States Army War College and earned a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. His research paper on the Joint Employment of Air Power in support of National Military Strategy won the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association Award. Promoted to his current rank on July 1, 2001, Colonel Yurovich assumed the duties as the Assistant Branch Head for Aviation Plans, Programs, Doctrine, Joint Matters and Budget at Headquarters Marine Corps in the Pentagon. In May 2002, Colonel Yurovich was assigned to the Joint Staff, and served as the Division Chief, Dominant Maneuver Assessment Division, J-8, until March 2003.

He was reassigned within the J-8 as the Studies, Analyses and Gaming Division Chief where he served until April 2004. Colonel Yurovich has been assigned as the DCAG, CVW-9 since August 2004 and assumed command in January 2006. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with five strike flight awards; four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one with combat V, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He has logged over 4000 hours in 40 different types of aircraft.

Carrier Air Wing Nine

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