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MACG-28
Command Biographies
MWSS-271 Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Colonel Justin D. Hunter

Justin Hunter enlisted in the Marine Corps and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC in April of 1998. He attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, NC and then Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator Course at Fort Huachuca, AZ. He served at VMU-2, MAG-14 in Cherry Point, NC where he participated in Combined Arms Exercise 3 & 4 in 29 Palms, CA and deployed to Bosnia in support of NATO Operation JOINT FORGE.

In 2001, Sergeant Hunter attended the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program. He conducted Officer Candidate School in 2003 and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration while majoring in Accounting and Finance. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, and then attended The Basic School in Quantico, VA and the Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer Course at Camp Lejeune, NC.

In 2006, 2ndLt Hunter served as Platoon Commander for 4th Platoon, Company C, 2d Combat Engineer Battalion. The platoon supported 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, training at Mojave Viper and deploying to Fallujah, Iraq from April to October 2007 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. 1stLt Hunter then served as the Executive Officer for Company C and deployed from March to October 2008 in support of Regimental Combat Team 1 in AO East, Fallujah and Ramadi, Iraq. Upon return, 1stLt Hunter served as Executive Officer, Mobility Assault Company, and then as the Company Commander for Company B.

From 2009 to 2012, Captain Hunter served in Region 1, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group. He held the positions of Operations Officer and Executive Officer while conducting inspections of the Marine detachments at the embassies throughout Eastern Europe & Central Asia.

From 2012 to 2014, Captain Hunter served as the Engineer Company Commander for MWSS-374, MAG-16. He attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course 1-13 and deployed the Company to Yuma, AZ in support of WTI 2-13. He led the Company through Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) 2-14, ITX 5-14, and conducted engineer missions throughout the southwestern United States in support of 3d MAW.

In 2014, Captain Hunter served as the OpsO for MWSS-374. In 2015, he relocated to serve as the OpsO for MWSS-371 in support of the Special Purpose Marine Aviation Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command. Captain Hunter operationally led the squadron through ITX 1-15, and then deployed in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE to provide Aviation Ground Support in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan.

From 2015 to 2017, Major Hunter served as a senior instructor for the Intermediate MAGTF Logistics Operations Course at the Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group. From 2017 to 2019, Major Hunter attended Command and Staff College and School of Advanced Warfighting at Marine Corps University.

During 2019, Major Hunter served in the III MEF, G-5 as the Northeast Asia Plans Officer, and then transferred to the 3d MLG, G-3 in 2020. While serving as a Plans Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Hunter supported Force Design 2030 planning, operational plans development, and numerous exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific.

His decorations include (1) Meritorious Service Medal, (1) Joint Service Commendation Medal, (5) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, (1) Joint Service Achievement Medal, and (1) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Marine Air Control Group 28