Colonel Mark W. Nelson, USMC, currently serves as an instructor in the Department of Warfighting and in the Department of Leadership. He is a graduate of Central Washington University, where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Flight Engineering. After initial flight training, he was assigned as an EA-6B pilot and served in support of numerous Joint and Combined operations, including DECISIVE EDGE/DECISIVE ENDEAVOUR, NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM. He has also been assigned to a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) staff where he served as the Fires Plans officer as well as the MEF Air Officer, and was responsible for the integration and coordination of Marine Air Ground Task Force fires. Additionally, while serving as the MEF air officer, he was tasked to coordinate aviation operations in support of JTF-536 (Tsunami Relief) in Utapao Thailand. Following his assignment to the MEF, Col Nelson was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, where he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, flying the Pioneer, Shadow, and ScanEagle unmanned systems. Col Nelson is a graduate of the Naval War College, where he earned a M.A. in Strategic and International Studies.
Colonel (ret.) Stan Norris is the Director, Spaatz Academic Centers at the Spaatz Center for Officer PME. He graduated from The Citadel in 1975 and completed his Masters work in 1978 at the University of Northern Colorado. During his active duty career, he served in multiple assignments at wing and MAJCOM level. Duties included squadron and group command and staff tours in planning and programming and training and tactics. He is a graduate of all levels of AF PME in residence here at Maxwell. His areas of expertise include mobility, air refueling, command and leadership.
