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Marines


Biography

 

Lieutenant Colonel William C. Woodward
Commanding Officer
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773

Lieutenant Colonel William C. Woodward was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 2003 upon graduation from the University of Maryland University College with a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Sciences. He was designated a naval aviator in February of 2006 and subsequently selected to fly and fight the AH-1W ‘Super Cobra’ attack helicopter.

First Lieutenant Woodward was assigned in 2006 to HMLA-267 ‘Stingers’ following completion of introductory flight training in the AH-1W. He deployed in 2007 with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to Al Qa’im, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and later in 2009 as the Air Combat Element (ACE) ordnance officer in charge for the 31st MEU to Southeast Asia. His MEU deployments saw him stationed aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Denver, and USS Essex.

Captain Woodward was selected in 2009 to help stand up the Marine Corps’ youngest attack squadron HMLA-469 ‘Vengeance’. He became the squadron’s first graduate from Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) during the spring of 2010 (Class 02-10). Later that year, he served as the ACE attack and utility WTI in support of the 31st MEU to Southeast Asia.In his capacity as WTI, Captain Woodward planned and participated in multiple joint and bilateral exercises including Keen Sword, Korean Incremental Training Program (KITP), Talisman Saber, Jaded Thunder, Balikatan, Enhanced Mojave Viper (EMV) and Cobra Gold.

Following his third operational deployment, Captain Woodward was selected for assignment to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and supporting graduate studies at the University of Maryland (UMD). He earned his master’s degree from UMD in Leadership Education and Development in 2012 and served two years at USNA as the 19th Company Officer, 4th Battalion Executive Officer (XO), and as an augment leadership instructor. In early 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Major and his 19th Company was named Brigade Color Company (ranked 1/30).

In July 2014, Major Woodward departed active duty and direct affiliated to HMLA-773 ‘Red Dogs’ at Warner Robins, GA where he completed refresher training in the AH-1W. As a Red Dog, he served as the squadron administrative officer (S-1) and supported multiple combined arms exercises including Jaded Thunder and Northern Strike.

In 2017, Major Woodward completed a tour of duty at Marine Air Group 49 (MAG-49) as a future operations officer and graduated from the MAWTS-1 Senior Watch Officer (SWO) course. The following year he rejoined HMLA-773 at Joint Force Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) and served as the officer in charge for flight equipment.

In his second Red Dog tour, Major Woodward successfully redesignated as a Night Systems Instructor (NSI) in the AH-1W, completed pilot conversion training in the AH-1Z ‘Viper’ and graduated with a master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Sciences from Air Force Command and Staff College.

Lieutenant Colonel Woodward resides in the Nashville, TN area where he serves as a general manager to the medical industry.