LT. COL. DANIEL F. GOODWIN - EXECUTIVE OFFICER - MCAS MIRAMAR

Photo of Lt. Colonel Daniel F. Goodwin, Executive Officer, MCAS Miramar

LtCol Dan “Pugs” Goodwin graduated from St. John’s School in 1988. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1992. While at the Naval Academy, he attended U.S. Marine Corps OCS and chose to enter the Marine Corps, obtaining a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in May of 1992.

Upon completing The Basic School in Quantico, Lt Goodwin spent time in the Naval Aviation Training pipeline learning to fly the T-34C Mentor and T-45A Goshawk, obtaining his Naval Aviator Wings in April 1995 from VT-21 at NAS Kingsville, TX. He moved to MCAS El Toro in May 1995 to begin training in the F/A-18 Hornet at VMFAT-101. Lt. Goodwin then joined VMFA-314 The Black Knights, who had recently moved to new spaces at Naval Air Station Miramar shortly before the transition to MCAS Miramar in 1997. While with the Black Knights, Capt Goodwin deployed twice to the Arabian Gulf aboard US Navy aircraft carriers, participating in combat air patrols and response-option strikes in Iraq during OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH. While with the Black Knights, Captain Goodwin attended the MAWTS-1 Marine Division Tactics Course (MDTC) and the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course, and served as the Pilot Training Officer.

In July of 2000, Capt Goodwin was selected for the USMC Pilot Exchange Program to fly F-15C Eagles with the U.S. Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base, FL. While there, he was promoted to Major, designated as an F-15C instructor pilot and mission commander, and assigned as Flight Commander and Assistant Director of Operations for the 58th Fighter Squadron – “The Gorillas.” After the attacks of September 11th, 2001, Maj Goodwin stood strip alert and flew defensive patrols over the Southeastern United States, Washington, D.C., and New York City during OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE.

From 2003 to 2005, Maj Goodwin served as a staff officer with Expeditionary Strike Group One and Marine Aircraft Group 11. He deployed with ESG-1 aboard the USS PELELIU (LHA-5) to the Central Command AOR for 8 months supporting the Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. While at MAG-11, Maj Goodwin served as the Group Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Group Operations Officer. In 2005, Maj Goodwin was re-assigned to VMFA-323 “The Death Rattlers” as the Maintenance Officer and then the Executive Officer. The squadron deployed aboard the USS JOHN C. STENNIS in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, providing coalition ground forces with close air support and reconnaissance missions.

Leaving VMFA-323 after deployment in 2007, LtCol Goodwin was assigned to MCAS Miramar as the Station Safety Officer. His primary duties included enforcing civilian occupational safety and health regulations and maintaining safe standards regarding airfield operations. In July 2008, LtCol Goodwin reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, Department of Plans, Policy, and Operations (PP&O). At the Pentagon, LtCol Goodwin served as the Readiness Section Head – responsible for analysis of approximately 400 monthly USMC unit readiness reports and the formulation of briefings and testimony to Congress, the Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).

LtCol Goodwin was selected to command VMFA(AW)-225 “The Vikings” while stationed at HQMC in the summer of 2008. He assumed command of VMFA(AW)-225 on November 6th, 2009 after moving back to MCAS Miramar. He recently completed a Unit Deployment Program (UDP) deployment to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan in support of III Marine Expeditionary Force and 1st Marine Air Wing objectives.

In June 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Goodwin transferred to the MCAS Miramar Headquarters Staff is currently serving as the Air Station’s Executive Officer.

Along with his Bachelor’s Degree from the US Naval Academy, he has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Norwich University and a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from Villanova University. He has flown over 2,000 hours in the F/A-18, and approximately 450 hours in the F-15C.