Robin Laird
During my most recent visit to the 2nd Marine Corps, I had the opportunity to speak to Major General Swan, commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW) on April 29, 2025.
He provided insight into how the wings navigate modernization while still maintaining global operational readiness. With its focus on integrating new aircraft systems, improving maintenance capabilities and fostering a culture of innovation, the second MAW places itself in meeting the challenges of modern warfare.
Modernizing aircraft: Building future powers
Major General Swan highlighted significant advances in modernizing the wing aircraft inventory. The VMFA-542 is “stepping up and ready,” and the F-35 Squadron “is coming faster now.”
The squadron took part in Exercise Nordic Response 24 last year. During that time, he ran the first US F-35 in Sweden and rehearsed a distributed aviation business in Northern High. Swan also noted the reactivation to the VMFA-251 and the first F-35C delivery in late 2024, as well as the first F-35B delivery to the VMFA-533 in October. Each was a key milestone in the 2nd MAW's tactical aircraft modernization efforts.
The CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopter Program is also progressing, bringing transformational capabilities to the Marines. Major General Swan highlighted the helicopter's impressive lift capacity and fly-by-wire technology. In a recent Service Level Training Exercise (SLTE), the CH-53K lifted up a fully combat-loaded light armored vehicle for the first time, showing its capabilities to the Marines with ground combat elements, allowing them to experience those capabilities firsthand.
“I think the future ace (air combat element) would be more connected, more capable and more deadly if it were,” Swann pointed out. This modernization has been extended to attack helicopters. The helicopter receives data links on Link 16 to enhance connections with the F-35 and other platforms.
Stay prepared during the transition
While moving forward with modernization efforts, the second MAW must maintain operational readiness for its global force management commitments in the Pacific, Europe and Africa. As the Marine Service Holding Ace, in contrast to focusing on a theater, every geographical combat order is also tasked with being prepared to deal with crises and contingencies around the world. This creates complex challenges for leadership.
Swan describes the force generation cycle of the second Maw, noting that while some units are deployed, others are preparing for deployment or have recently returned. He noted that the wings are meticulous in ensuring that deployment preparations are well managed, while at the same time balancing modernization efforts across the squadron as they are moving to new aircraft.
Swan's Wing's priorities are simple. “Be ready. Take care of our people. Find more cowbells.” He emphasizes that whether it's Global Force Management or crisis response, Marines must be trained to carry out their assigned missions. However, he acknowledges the challenges brought about by delays in the program, noting that new features can be delayed.
Innovation: Find “More Cowbells”
Perhaps most obvious is General Swan's approach to innovation, which he calls “more cowbells.” This is a reference to the famous Saturday Night Liveskit. He distributes actual bulldogs to the Marines who develop innovative solutions to sustained problems. Since running the Cowbell Award program last summer, Swan has handed out more than 40 cowbells worthy of Marines who have innovated or improved their capabilities at the unit level.
“The Marines want to do a great job, they want to get better. They want to win,” Swann explained. This philosophy encourages personnel to always “improve your position” and find better ways to achieve their mission.
One of the most promising areas of innovation in Wing is predictive maintenance. Swan explained his efforts to leverage aircraft sensor data and artificial intelligence to predict component failures before they occur. This approach is intended to move from unplanned to scheduled maintenance. This means securing the parts before they break down during a critical mission.
“How do you schedule maintenance? That means this generator, this servo cylinder, this radio will break. We need to fix it now so we can send it in a 10-hour mission,” explained Swann. This ability is particularly valuable in a contested logistics environment, where maintenance “at once and at an inappropriate time to put people at risk and put missions at risk.”
Swan believes that combining government data resources with AI algorithms will revolutionize the maintenance and supply chain, “creating better, more capable forces that can iterate, spin and determine within the enemy's OODA loop.”
Human resource retention through team building
While the broader military faces challenges in recruitment and retention, Major General Swann reports that the Marines are “nailing their retention.” He attributes this success to the legion's commitment to maintaining high standards.
“We haven't lowered the standard. In fact, we are proud of it. In fact, we don't apologise for maintaining the standard and the people,” Swann said.
The second MAW approach to retention focuses on the fundamentals of team building and mastering. “My philosophy… we build a team of teams and take care of the Marines. It's great in basics,” explained Swann. This leadership philosophy creates an environment in which Marines feel part of a valuable organization.
Ace as the center of gravity of MAGTF
When discussing the importance of air combat elements to the operation of the Marine Aviation Ground Task Force (MAGTF), Swann provided a thought-provoking perspective.
This view places aviation as a key enabler of ground operations, particularly in distributed operations across conflict environments. Swann emphasized that each Echelon has its own centre of gravity. For the aircraft group, it is the maintenance logistics squadron. For the wing, it is a command and control group.
Looking ahead
As the second MAW continues its journey of modernization, advanced platforms such as the integration of digital systems, predictive maintenance, and F-35 and CH-53K will rebuild marine aviation capabilities. Major General Swan's leadership approach, combining preparation and innovation, provides a framework for managing this complex transition.
The challenges remain important. From maintaining preparation with limited amphibious transport to accelerating the integration of new technologies. However, by focusing on building teams, enhancing innovation and leveraging new technologies, we position the second MAW to meet these challenges, providing combat power when, where and where necessary.
As Swann briefly stated, “How can I become faster, better, and more deadly?”
Finding the answer to this question will shape the future of marine aviation for years to come.
Featured Image: US Marine Corps Rear Admiral William Swan, commanding general for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, coordinates his uniform and then climbs an F/A-18D Hornet aircraft equipped with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, Marine Aircraft Group 12, and 1st Maw, to provide experience of Indo-Pacific experience to squadrons stationed in the continent, under the Exercise North 25, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, February 11th, under the Temporary Unit Deployment Program. CN25 provides the optimal environment for strengthening and understanding opportunities to continue to advance the shared interests between allies and partners. Swan is from Wisconsin. (Cpl. Photo of the US Marines by DahkareoPritchett)
