MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Col. James J. Cooney relinquished command of the air station to Col. Ben D. Hancock during a change of command ceremony July 7 at the station parade field.
Hancock, a Tempe, Ariz., native, gained command of the station after serving with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan, as the wing's deputy operations officer and then operations officer from January 2004 to June 2005.
Cooney assumed the role of station commanding officer July 2002. During his time as CO, the station has increased construction, improved airfield services, range management, security, and increased operational tempo.
Cooney, a Weymouth, Mass., native, who will move on to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., said Hancock is definitely fit for the job.
"His operational background is exceptional and he went through a very rigorous screening process to get here, so I think he'll be perfect," he said.
Hancock proudly served full-time as a uniformed trooper with the Arizona Highway Patrol for four years while attending college at Arizona State University before he was commissioned in May 1983.
After Hancock completed Harrier training in 1987, he served with Marine Attack Squadron-331 and Marine Attack Training Squadron-203. He then returned to VMA-331 where he flew combat missions over Kuwait and Iraq in Operation Desert Storm.
Hancock was then transferred to VMA-131 in August 1990 and served there until July 1993 when he was selected to fly with the U.S. Navy Blue Angles. After serving with the Blue Angels, he was sent to Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Va., as the academics officer and the company commander. He then served with VMA-214, where he later became the squadron’s executive officer.
In November 2001 he became commanding officer of VMA-231 until January 2004 when he was transferred to the 1st MAW.
Hancock said his various experiences as a trooper and in the Corps have molded him along the way, helping him with his success in the Marine Corps.
“Arizona Department of Public Safety — great friends of mine, great supporters,” said Hancock. “I can't say enough about them. I think they are one of the main reasons I'm in the Marine Corps. When I joined the Highway Patrol, they supported me in pursuing my commission and my degree. I learned a lot from them and they helped me out with my leadership in the Marine Corps and with challenges I face in the Corps."
Sgt. Maj. Manuel Garibay Jr., station sergeant major, said he looks forward to working as the new CO's wingman and admires his amiable personality.
"I know Colonel Hancock is definitely going to take this to the next level," said Garibay, the Norwalk, Calif., native. "He's ready to get down and dirty with the Marines.
"He's real approachable, as any commander should be," he added. "Just being around him, you feel motivated. You can talk about anything and you know you're on the same sheet."
Hancock doesn't plan on making any immediate changes to the station because of its exceptional performance.
"Colonel Cooney has honestly done a superb job here in three years, and it's going to be a challenge to follow him," said Hancock. "I will continue to work to do what he's done here — to provide the best possible support for the units, the Marines, the sailors who work and live in Yuma, their families, and for Marines and units that deploy to Yuma to train.”
Cooney said the station’s rapid growth and improvement is what he's been most proud of during his time as CO and is pleased to pass down the responsibility to Hancock.
"I have a very strong sense that things are moving forward in a positive direction,” said Cooney. “Despite what's going on in the world, we are definitely a major player for our service in the Marine Corps. Everything is just improving. I'm really excited. The things I was fortunate to get involved with here will grow on the next guy's watch.
"You're going to love it here,” Cooney said to Hancock during the ceremony. “We wish you God speed. You’re going to do great things. Semper Fi."