Colonel Kelvin W. Gallman, USMC
Colonel Gallman attended Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, AL and received a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 1992. Via the Marine Officer Candidate Course (OCC), he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December1994.
Upon completion of The Basic School (TBS) in July 1995, he underwent Naval Aviation training in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX and was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1997. He was assigned to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 204 (HMT-204) aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in Jacksonville, NC for CH-46E fleet replacement training.
In January 1998, First Lieutenant Gallman reported to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (HMM-166) of Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen (MAG-16) aboard MCAS El Toro in El Toro, CA. In 1999, he moved with HMM-166 to MCAS Miramar in San Diego, CA. During the five year tour at HMM-166, he completed two Western Pacific deployments and served as schedule writer, Pilot Training Officer, Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) and Assistant Operations Officer. In 2002, he was assigned to the MAG-16 operational staff. He served in future plans as the CH-46E WTI during the initial invasion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) 2003.
In July 2003, Captain Gallman reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) aboard MCAS Yuma in Yuma, AZ. His primary duties were as a tactics instructor in the CH-46E helicopter division. In the summer of 2005, Major Gallman moved to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV. Still serving as a MAWTS-1 instructor, he also acted as the Volume Manager for all Marine Corps Aviation Tactical Manuals.
Major Gallman was selected for Intermediate Level School (ILS) and moved to Newport, RI in Aug 2007. He attended the United States Naval War College and earned a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.
He reported back to MAG-16, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 (HMM-161) where he served as the Operations Officer from July 2008 to October 2009. During the tour, Major Gallman deployed with the squadron to Iraq in support of OIF 08.02 and transitioned HMM-161 to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (VMM-161), the first West Coast VMM squadron. In Oct 2009, he moved to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) Headquarters. He served as an Action Officer on the 3d MAW Transition Task Force (TTF) responsible for all Type Model Series (TMS) aircraft transitions within 3d MAW.
In July 2010, he executed orders to HQMC Aviation. He served in the Aviation Plans and Programs (APP) Branch as the Aviation Training Systems (ATS) Lead and APP-3 Division Head. During the tour, Lieutenant Colonel Gallman was selected for VMM squadron Command and reported to Marine Aircraft Group Twenty-Six (MAG-26) at Marine Corps Air Station New River for MV-22 transition training. After completing training, he served as the MAG-26 Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) Commanding Officer from February 2012 to June 2013.
In June 2013 Lieutenant Colonel assumed command of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (VMM-261). During this tour the squadron deployed in support of combat operations in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 14.1 and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. That same year the squadron won the Commandant’s Aviation Trophy for superior performance in Marine Aviation.
After relinquishing command he moved to Washington, DC in June 2015 to attend Top Level School (TLS) at the National War College where he received a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy.
In June, 2016, he assumed duties at The Basic School, Marine Corps Base Quantico as the Executive Officer. After selection to his current rank Colonel Gallman reported for duty at Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation’s Manpower and Support Branch (ASM). During this tour he was selected to attend the CMC fellowship at the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
In May 2018, Colonel Gallman assumed his present duties as the Commanding Officer, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One.
Colonel Gallman has flown over 3,200 flight hours. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (with the numeral 5 and “V” device), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 4 Gold Stars in lieu of 5th award) and the Navy Achievement Medal.