Change of Command ceremony for MAG-29

Credit: Lance Cpl. Christopher Hernandez | Date Taken: 06/10/2021
U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert B. Finneran and Col. Richard D. Joyce partake in Change of Command ceremony for Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 29 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, June 10, 2020. The ceremony represented a transfer of responsibility and authority from Finneran to Joyce. MAG-29 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. For the past two years, Finneran has served as commander of MAG-29, which is composed of eight rotary-wing squadrons manned by 2,900 Marines and Sailors. During that time, MAG-29 converted from its AH-1W helicopters to the upgraded AH-1Z model in both of its attack squadrons. The group deployed two detachment in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Southern Command, multiple deployments for training, multiple Weapons and Tactics Instructor courses and multiple Integrated Training Exercises ITX while still providing support to II Marine Expeditionary Force. His next assignment will be to Headquarters Marine Corps, Department of Aviation where he will serve as branch head for Air Warfare Systems – Assault Support. Joyce has deployed numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan, served as the commanding officer of an attack squadron, and as the Director of the Staff Group for Gen. Robert B. Neller, the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He recently finished his assignment as the Director of Safety and Standardization of 2nd MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Christopher Hernandez)