Selected To Serve As Deputy Commandant For Aviation

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Steven Rudder has been tapped as the next deputy commandant for aviation (DCA).

Currently the director for strategic planning and policy (J5) at U.S. Pacific Command, Rudder (pictured) has served in the Marine Corps Aviation community around the world. He will succeed Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, who will retire from the Marine Corps this summer after serving for 37 years, according to a report from the U.S. Naval Institute.

The Marine Corps Times reports that during Davis' tenure at DCA, the Corps has experienced readiness challenges stemming from decisions made long before he took the post, including leaving CH-53E helicopters on the field for years, and buying F-35 joint strike fighters rather than F/A-18 E and F variant Super Hornets.

The Corps has also lost many of its most experienced maintainers, according to the report, and as many as half of the Corps' aircraft are not airworthy, the Marine Corps Times reported.

Rudder has served in the Marine Corps since 1984, according to the USNI report. His career has been in the rotary wing community, but is very familiar with the F-35B program. 

(U.S. Marine Corps image)

FMI: www.marines.mil