Lt. Colonel Evan Shockley, USMC,
Commanding Officer, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251
Evan L. Shockley graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned a master’s from the University of Virginia. He completed The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia.
Shockley is a trained naval aviator and served with the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 as Schedules Officer and Flight Officer in Bahrain. He then transitioned to VMFA-121 and served in Japan. He returned to Arizona and served as an F-35 instructor pilot. He became F-35 Division Head and then executive officer.
Shockley has served as the VMFA-251 officer in charge since March 2024.
In the News…
Lt. Colonel Evan Shockley, commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, commemorated the reactivation of the Marine Corps’ East Coast-based squadron and its introduction of the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. Established during the Second World War, the squadron was deactivated in 2020.
“Almost 83 years to the day after it was founded, VMFA-251 reactivates as an F-35C Lightning II squadron. The T-Bolts are humbled and honored for the privilege of carrying that proud legacy forward,” said Lt. Colonel Shockley.
The squadron commanding officer continued, “Our immediate focus is working towards initial operational capability, which means that VMFA-251 has enough operational F-35C Lightning II aircraft, trained pilots, maintainers, and support equipment to self-sustain its mission essential tasks. Following that, we will turn our attention towards reaching full operational capability to ensure that, when called upon, the T-Bolts will stand ready to serve our great nation.”
