Commanding Officer
LtCol Christopher Kocab

Lieutenant Colonel Kocab currently serves as the Commanding Officer, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

Lieutenant Colonel Kocab was born on 30 October 1978 in Cleveland, Ohio.  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps through the NROTC program in May 2001, having completed his undergraduate education in Finance at Miami University (OH).  Following The Basic School, he graduated from flight school earning his Gold Aviator Wings in May 2003. Upon designation, he was assigned to MCAS Cherry Point, NC for initial KC-130J Hercules training. 

In October 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Kocab was assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) at MCAS Cherry Point, NC and served as the Adjutant, Flight Duty Officer, Flight Officer and Assistant Operations Officer.  During this tour, he deployed three times participating in phase three, four, and five of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  He also deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to Royal Air Force Base Akrotiri, Cyprus in support of a Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) evacuating American citizens from Lebanon in 2006. 

In September 2007, he was assigned to VMGR-352 in MCAS Miramar, CA.  During this tour, he graduated as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) from MAWTS-1 and served as the Aircrew Training Officer, Group NATOPS Evaluator, and Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer.   

During 2010 to 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Kocab served as the Marine Officer Instructor, University of Wisconsin Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC). 

In 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Kocab attended Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, AL and received a Masters of Military Operational Art and Science degree.  

Ordered to Iwakuni, Japan in June 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Kocab served as Assistant Operations Officer and Operations Officer, VMGR-152.  During this tour, he also served as the Detachment Officer in Charge (OIC) for Balikatan 2015.  Lieutenant Colonel Kocab spent his final year as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) Operational Training Complex Program Manager charged with operationalizing a new complex, intended to train 1st MAW and Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) aviation units aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. 

From 2017-2019, Lieutenant Colonel Kocab served as OPNAV N98 KC-130/Operational Support Aircraft (OSA) Requirements Officer at the Pentagon, Washington DC.

In June 2019, he was assigned to VMGR-152 as the Executive Officer (XO) and in February 2019 served as MAG-12 XO prior to assuming command.

Lieutenant Colonel Kocab’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), Air Medal (16), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal..