New commanding officer to lead unmanned aerial vehicle squadron

By Lance Cpl. Unique B. Roberts

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — Lt. Col. Kristopher Faught assumed command of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 from Lt. Col. Che’ Bolden during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., May 22, 2104.

Bolden will continue with his career as a student at the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, VA.

Bolden said he feels a tremendous sense of pride as he prepares to depart the squadron.

“The Night Owl Parliament epitomizes all that is Marine aviation,” said Bolden. “VMU-2 has innovators and leaders, and I have no doubt that Lt. Col. Faught is going to take this squadron to new heights as a centerpiece of the Aviation Combat Element and the Marine Air Ground Task Force as a whole.”

Bolden has been a part of VMU-2 since Nov. 16, 2012. He is proud of the squadron’s accomplishments and the pride they have instilled in each other.

“My singular goal for the squadron was to focus, train and prepare as a flying squadron ready to fight as a member of the Aviation Combat Element of the MAGTF,” said Bolden. “The ethos of Marine aviation is alive and well in VMU-2, as the Marines of this unit constitute the new version of the ‘special breed of sky devil.’”

Upon taking charge of the squadron, Faught plans to provide full support to Marine expeditionary unit deployments, and integration of the RQ-21 Blackjack into MAGTF aviation.

Faught looks forward to accompanying his Marines in accomplishing any mission tasked to them.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to stay in the Fleet Marine Force, engage in operational commitment and the ability to continue the great work the Marines have already accomplished, integrating the RQ-21 into the Aviation Combat Element and deploying in support of Marines operating forward,” he said.

As Faught takes command, he plans to employ the basics and reinforce lessons learned to his Marines.

“Most of the things that I find to be valuable as time goes on are just reinforcing lessons learned from entry level training,” said Faught. “Basic fundamentals of what it means to be a Marine does not change.”