Colonel William G. Heiken assumed the duties as the Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) in April of 2023. He last served as the J5 Assistant Chief of Staff, Joint Interagency Task Force West, Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii.
Colonel Heiken enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1993 and served with the Marine Attack Squadron 311 and deployed under the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and again with HMM-268, 15th MEU WestPac participating in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH ashore in Kuwait. Discharged from active duty in 1997 he joined USMC Reserves, Bulk Fuel Company A, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Tucson, Arizona.
Colonel Heiken attended Arizona State University and was commissioned in December of 1999 via the Platoon Leaders Class. He was designated a Naval Aviator in April of 2002 and reported for initial training in the CH-53D at Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301, MAG-24, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Colonel Heiken joined the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 and completed two deployments under the Unit Deployment Program to Iwakuni, Japan and Okinawa, Japan supporting another 31st MEU. Colonel Heiken attended MAWTS-1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 01-07 and subsequently deployed with the Ugly Angles in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08.
Colonel Heiken reported to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) in 2008. He transitioned to the CH-53E and served as a White House Liaison Officer, Flight Operations Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. He was designated a Presidential Command Pilot and Marine One Aircraft Commander, directly responsible for worldwide safe and timely helicopter transportation for President Barack Obama aboard Marine One.
Colonel Heiken reported to MAG-24 in 2013 and served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463. In 2014 Colonel Heiken deployed for six months to Royal Australian Air Force Base in Darwin, Australia as the first Aviation Combat Element Detachment Officer in Charge for Marine Rotational Force Darwin. Upon return from MRF-D he served as the Pegasus Operations Officer and Executive Officer. In January of 2016 Colonel Heiken reported to MAG-24 Tactics Department and was later reassigned as the Officer in Charge, Marine Aviation Training System Site, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
In 2018 Colonel Heiken assumed command of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 in San Diego, CA. The Heavy Haulers supported numerous exercises culminating with a six-month deployment to Okinawa, Japan under the Unit Deployment Program 19.2. The squadron was the recipient of the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for 2019.
Colonel Heiken attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College and National War College. He holds a BA in Communication from Arizona State University and a Masters of National Security Strategy from National Defense University. Colonel Heiken is the 2008 Marine Corps Aviation Association recipient of the Alfred A. Cunningham Award.