About Us

Shawn Hughes graduated as the Company Honorman for Kilo Company, Plt 3058, 3rd RTB, MCRD San Diego in Sept, 1990. From 1991 -1994, he served as a mechanic, Plane Captain, crew chief and Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative on CH-53Es, deploying from MCAS Tustin to the USS Okinawa (LPH-3) and to MCAS Futenma on Okinawa; deploying from MCAS Futenma for the 35th SPMAGTF. In 1994, Cpl Hughes was assigned to the Marine Aviation Detachment (MAD) and Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate aboard NAS Patuxent River. While assigned to the MAD, Sgt Hughes served as the Color Sergeant and was selected as the Marine of the Year for 1995 and 1996. Attending college courses with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Extended Campus), Sgt Hughes was selected for promotion to SSgt and selected as the Marine Corps Institute Graduate of the Year for 1997. Selected for The Meritorious Commissioning Program, Shawn was commissioned a 2ndLt upon completion of the 166th OCC. After joining the Marine Corps Mustang Association (R-2678) and upon completion of The Basic School in 1998, Lt Hughes was assigned to NAS Pensacola for training as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer (6002). In 1998, Lt Hughes served briefly at MALS-36 aboard MCAS Futenma, before being assigned as the Maintenance/Material Control Officer for HMM-262. Following multiple land and ship-board deployments as part of MAG-36 and the 31st MEU, 1stLt Hughes was assigned as the Power Plants Officer for MALS-36 in late Sept 2001, serving until transfer to Naval Air Facility, Atsugi as the Officer In Charge of the Support Equipment Rework Facility. Deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Capt Hughes was the Officer in Charge of the Naval Air Pacific Repair Activity Central and Remote Field Detachments. Upon return from deployment, Capt Hughes was assigned as the Marine Liaison/Senior Marine and Instructor for the Aircraft Maintenance Officer School aboard NAS Whiting Field. While serving concurrently as the Director for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Maintenance and Technical training and Instructor/Course Manager for the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program Indoctrination Course, Capt Hughes was designated a Master Training Specialist and was selected as the Naval Education and Training Command Officer Instructor of the Year for 2005. Selected for Promotion to Major, Capt Hughes was transferred to MALS-26 aboard MCAS New River as the Operations Officer. Maj Hughes deployed with MALS-26 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the Advance Party for MAG-26 in 2008, then with MALS-26 in 2009 returning to CONUS in 2010. Maj Hughes was reassigned to VMMT-204 as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer and served in that billet until transfer in 2011 to the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training aboard NAS Pensacola where he served as the Operations Officer until his retirement in October of 2013. Shawn was named to the Marine Corps Mustang Association Board of Directors in 2022 and currently enjoys the privilege of serving as the Association’s Vice President.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Slick Katz enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in June 1968. Following graduation from Aviation Electrician (A) School, he was assigned to Marine Observation Squadron One (VMO-1) at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, where he served until September 1970. He then transferred to Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 167 (HML-167) at Marble Mountain Air Facility in the Republic of Vietnam. Returning to the United States with HML-167 in July 1971, he remained with the squadron until his release from active duty in June 1972. While attending the University of Massachusetts, Slick continued his Marine Corps service with HML-771 at Naval Air Station South Weymouth, Massachusetts. Upon graduating in June 1977, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. After completing the Aviation Maintenance Officer (AMO) Course, he was assigned to HML-267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, Camp Pendleton, California, where he completed two Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments. Over the course of his distinguished career, Slick served in a wide range of operational, leadership, and staff assignments, including Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean in Naples, Italy; The Basic School; III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) G-4; Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons 12 and 36, where he served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, respectively; Branch Chief, Aviation Logistics Support (ASL), Headquarters Marine Corps; and Director of Business Operations at the Defense Supply Center in Richmond, Virginia. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Air Medal with Numeral 14, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Aircrew Wings. He retired from the Marine Corps in October 2004 with the rank of Colonel. Following his retirement from active duty, Slick joined Camber Corporation as Director of Logistics Programs for the Naval Support Division, supporting Headquarters Marine Corps and the Naval Air Systems Command. He currently serves as a Deputy Sheriff with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina.

Mark’s biography will be available soon—please check back.

Andrew Jones began his Marine Corps career as an enlisted Infantryman and Reconnaissance Marine. Deploying with BLT 1/4 on the 11th MEU in 1998, he participated in Operations Southern Watch (Kuwait/Iraq) and Safe Departure (Eritrea). After returning from this deployment, Corporal Jones was selected for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Training Program (MECEP) and was accepted to Auburn University, where he was promoted to Sergeant. In addition to a full academic load, Sergeant Jones was heavily involved with training Midshipmen in the NROTC program to become Navy and Marine Corps officers, and after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in two years, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. As a student at The Basic School on September 11th, 2001, Lieutenant Jones excelled in order to achieve his preferred Military Occupational Specialty and continued training in Quantico at the Infantry Officer Course. Upon graduating, Lieutenant Jones was assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines at Camp Pendleton. Within three months of reporting as a Platoon Commander, he was selected to lead a security platoon to deploy to Kuwait in November 2002, guarding the 1st Marine Division and I MEF Headquarters as the division began to deploy for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Shortly before the operations in Iraq began, Lieutenant Jones and the security platoon was reunited with 1/4 and they were an integral part of the ground combat element. Following this deployment, Lieutenant Jones was assigned as the Executive Officer of B Company, and deployed again to Iraq where the battalion was distributed throughout Anbar Province, and Lieutenant Jones was involved in the Battle of Najaf, the elections in Karbala, and the second Battle of Fallujah. Returning to the United States again, Lieutenant Jones was ordered to Recruiting Station Montgomery, Alabama, as the Executive Officer. Upon successfully completing the tour on Recruiting duty, Captain Jones volunteered to return to Iraq as a Company Commander with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, returning to Anbar Province yet again. Shortly following the completion of this deployment, Captain Jones was assigned as in Individual Augment to the 6th UK Division, which became Regional Command South in Afghanistan. After 13 months, Captain Jones returned home to orders to be the Inspector Instructor for B Company, Anti-Terrorism Battalion in Amarillo, Texas, where he submitted retirement papers to complete his service. After his ~22 years of service to the Marine Corps, Andrew Jones started a new career as a project and program manager, gaining more experience and seniority in various positions up to his current role as a Senior Agile Program Manager working as a contractor to the Internal Revenue Service.