Friday Ceremony Installs Lt. Col. Pellegrino As New
CO
Marine Corps Air Station (MCB Hawaii) welcomed its new
commanding officer Aug. 6th, during a change of command ceremony.
After two years as commanding officer of MCAS, Lt. Col. Michael
Antonio of Coral Springs, Fla., handed command over to Lt. Col.
Jeffrey “J.P.” Pellegrino. Antonio will be the new
director of Operations and Training for Marine Corps Base
Hawaii.
Pellegrino, a native of Placentia, Calif., comes from the
requirements branch of Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation, located
at the Pentagon where he served as the Operational Support Aircraft
requirements officer. The son of a homemaker and a police officer,
Pellegrino knew he would join the Corps since he was 11, when he
attended the wedding of a Marine pilot.
“I said I want to be like that guy,” Pellegrino
said.
After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 1994 with a
bachelor’s degree in economics, Pellegrino attended flight
school and earned his wings in 1996. He still remembers his first
flight in a T-34. He said he was so focused on all the flight
procedures it took him awhile to realize he was actually
flying.
“It was very exciting and it went by very quickly,”
Pellegrino said.
Being a leader is nothing new for Pellegrino, who finds leading
Marines the most rewarding aspect of the Corps. But it can also be
a challenge. As a maintenance officer for Marine Aerial Refueler
Transport Squadron 252, Pellegrino was tasked to prepare for a wing
inspection in a brief time period with only half the squadron
available. He said part of the challenge was to keep everyone
motivated. Despite the challenge, the squadron worked hard, getting
feedback from those who knew what was expected in an
inspection.
“I think it’s human nature to give up too
soon,” Pellegrino said. “If you keep pushing through
the challenges, most of the time you’re going to succeed and
the times that you don’t succeed, you’re going to learn
enough to where you’ll be able to succeed the next
time.”
As a result, Pellegrino said the squadron impressed the
inspectors, who had “never seen a unit this solid in the last
18 months that [they’ve] been there.”
When he’s not busy at work, Pellegrino enjoys running or
writing fiction. He has two fictional novels he plans to publish,
and always keeps a notebook for any ideas that strike him during
the day. This is the first time Pellegrino has been stationed in
Hawaii and he is excited to be here, ready to start his new
position. He praises Antonio’s efforts working with the
airfield.
“I intend to continue on that path and ensure that the
airfield continues to move in the right direction,”
Pellegrino said.
Antonio joined the Corps from a desire to serve the country. He
earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and
mathematics from the University of Utah, and attended The Basic
School in 1991. After attending flight school, Antonio was
designated a Naval Aviator in 1994. He has been on numerous
deployments including Iraq, Kuwait, Thailand, Korea and
Okinawa.
“His decisions are something the Marine Corps can be proud
of,” said Cmdr. Eric Barkdull, the executive officer of
MCAS.
Barkdull, who has worked with Antonio for a little more than a
year, said he learned how to work with the Marine Corps through
Antonio.
“He’s a person of high standards and values,”
Barkdull said. “At the same time he keeps family priorities
straight as well, which is very admirable.”
“They’ve always done what needs to be done to make
the mission happen,” Antonio said. “Twenty-four-seven,
365 days-a-week if required.” [ANN Salutes Kristen Wong,
Photojournalist, Marine Corps Base Hawaii].