With the Strait of San de Fuca as a backdrop, Marine Aviation Training Support Group 53 (MATSG 53) held a change of
command ceremony, July 25, when U.S. Marine Corps Col. Timothy B. Cutright assumed command from Col. William J. Flannery,
who retired at the same ceremony with 25 years of Marine Corps service.
Cutright is a native of Elkins, W. Va., and a graduate of Youngstown State University. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in
October 1986.
Subsequent tours include Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force aboard USS Harry S. Truman; Electronic attack squadron
(VAQ)129 for transition to EA-6B Prowlers; Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ) 4; VMAQ-3; Marine Corps Combat
Development Command, MCB Quantico, Va.; MARCENT, Joint Operations Center, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base,
Tampa, Fla.; VMAQ-3 as executive officer; and Marine Aircraft Group 14 as Director of Safety and Standardization.
Cutright served as commanding officer of VMAQ-3 from June 2004 through December 2005. VMAQ-3 completed a combat deployment
to Bagram, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during that time.
In April 2006, Cutright was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policy and Operations, National Plans Branch, during which
he participated in the initial Marine Corps Strategic Vision Group. He graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June
2008 earning a master’s of science in national resource management. Cutright has over 2,600 hours in the EA-6B Prowler and A-6E Intruder.
There are about 150 Marines assigned to MATSG 53, which provides administrative and logistical support for assigned Marine Corps personnel
affiliated with the EA-6B Prowler community.