History in the USMC

Lieutenant Colonel Brian Kennedy was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from The Ohio State University in 1989. Throughout his career as an AH-1W Cobra helicopter pilot, LtCol Kennedy has served on deployments in Haiti, Bosnia and Iraq, to include eight separate installations including Quantico, Va. and Camp Pendleton, Ca.

Commendation

LtCol Kennedy was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" for exceptional actions while serving with Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, from March 20 through April 14, 2003.

LtCol Kennedy performed 71 combat missions during this time, successfully engaging numerous enemy units as a flight lead in close air support. LtCol Kennedy's actions were vital to the success of British armor in their invasion of Basra, Iraq; he also lead his section through air defense artillery and small arms fire to destroy the final ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. He coordinated 30 strikes against fortified Special Republican Guard weapons caches as a Forward Air Controller. LtCol Kennedy's devotion to duty in the face of hazardous flying conditions reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps.

LtCol Kennedy now serves as the Marine aviation weapons requirements officer at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.