Commanding Officer
LtCol Kenneth Wayne Phelps III
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Wayne Phelps III was born in August 1975 in Macomb, Illinois. He attended the Platoon Leaders Class in 1995/96 and earned a B.A. in Mathematics degree from Saint Louis University. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1997.
Upon completing The Basic School in December 1998, he attended the Air Support Control Officer Course in 29 Palms, CA, where he was the honor graduate. Upon completion of ASCOC he attended the Air Defense Officers Course at Ft. Bliss, El Paso, TX and subsequently received orders to 3d LAAD Bn in May 1999.
Lieutenant Colonel Phelps spent two months at 3d LAAD Bn as an assistant Platoon Commander followed by eleven months as the Platoon Commander for Alpha Battery, Second Platoon.
Lieutenant Colonel Phelps spent eight months as the Battalion Training Officer for 3d LAAD Bn before he CHOPed for the 15th MEU in February 2001 as the LAAD detachment OIC. Lieutenant Colonel Phelps and the LAAD Detachment were deployed to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and were the first conventional troops on the ground in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Upon returning from the 15th MEU Lieutenant Colonel Phelps served as the Headquarters and Service Battery Executive Officer before returning to the Operations Office as the Operations Officer. In September 2002 Lieutenant Colonel Phelps assumed command of Bravo Battery, 3d LAAD Battalion. During the months of October and November he deployed the Battery in support of Combined Arms Exercise 1/2-03. In February 2003, he deployed the Battery to Kuwait in support of combat operations in Iraq for OIF I. Bravo Battery provided air defense, convoy security, and ground security for MWSS-271, MWSS-371, and two Patriot Batteries. Upon return to CONUS Lieutenant Colonel Phelps graduated from Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-04 in October 2003. In February 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Phelps again deployed Bravo Battery to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Bravo Battery again filled a non-doctrinal role and manned entry control points, conducted third country national escorts, conducted internal patrols, and provided the Quick Reaction Force for the Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.
From August 2004 to May 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Phelps attended the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico. Upon graduation Lieutenant Colonel Phelps was assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One where he served two years as the Ground Based Air Defense Division Head and one year as the TACC Division Head.
From June 2008 to June 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Phelps attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, where he earned a Masters in Military Studies. Lieutenant Colonel Phelps reported to 3d LAAD Bn in June 2009 and served as the Battalion Executive Officer until October 2010. From February to September 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Phelps deployed to Afghanistan with 3d LAAD Bn. During this period, the Battalion was responsible for security of Camp Leatherneck and the surrounding area of operation. In October 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Phelps reported to Marine Air Control Group 38 to serve as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit MACG Detachment OIC.
From March 2011 to June 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Phelps was assigned to HMM-268(REIN) as the MACG Detachment and MWSS Detachment OIC. Throughout the deployment the detachment participated in theater security cooperation exercises in Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Djibouti, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan. The MACG Detachment also established an ACE COC ashore in Djibouti in support of a JTF-HOA operation.
In August 2012 Lieutenant Colonel Phelps reported to HQMC Aviation (APX) to serve as the ground based air defense requirements officer and subsequently served in the UAS Cell as the RQ-21 requirements officer, VMU Tactical Operations Center action officer, and ISR services action officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Phelps was selected for the FY14 Primary UAS MOS (7315) selection board and attended the USAF Remotely Piloted Aircraft course from January to July 2014, graduating as the distinguished graduate. In July 2014, he reported for duty as the VMU-3 Operations Officer from July 2014 to June 2015 and currently serves as the VMU-3 Executive Officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Phelps’ personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (x3) (one with combat distinguishing device), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Honorable Order of St Barbara, and 2012 MCAA Command and Control Officer of the Year.