U.S. Marine Corps Col. Karl Arbogast, outgoing commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, renders a salute during the national anthem at a Change of Command ceremony, MCAS Beaufort, S.C., July 7, 2023. Arbogast relinquished command of MCAS Beaufort to Col. Mark Bortnem. (Nathan Saucier/U.S. Marine Corps)
(Tribune News Service) — U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, home to five fighter jet squadrons, has a new commanding officer.
Col. Mark Bortnem took command from Col. Karl Arbogast on Friday.
Bortnem, who grew up in Milford, Mich., graduated from Ohio State University and the U.S. Air Force’s Air War College. He’s been a Marine for over 30 years, first enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1991. He has served in a wide variety of global locations, including the pacific region, the Middle East, and the Arctic. Bortnem has nearly 3,000 flight hours, including more than 500 hours of combat time.
“I’m determined to integrate myself into Team Beaufort and keep this place remaining as the best air station in the Marine Corps, working around the best folks, and with the best Marines,” Bortnem said in a news release.
Arbogast had been the commanding officer for three years.
In reflecting on his term, Arbogast said, “When we stand up and think about our time in Team Beaufort, we’re going to cherish this, every moment. We will always remain faithful to this awesome place, and all the wonderful people that we have met here.”
U.S. Marine Corps Col. Karl Arbogast, outgoing commanding officer, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, passes the colors to Col. Mark Bortnem, incoming commanding officer, MCAS Beaufort, during a Change of Command Ceremony at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., July 7, 2023. (Nathan Saucier/U.S. Marine Corps)
Arbogast is headed next to the Training and Education Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
More than 150 people gathered to witness the time-honored Marine Corps tradition of transferring formal authority from one commander to the next. The ceremony was attended by a host of Marine Corps leaders including Brig. Gen. Walker Field, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island in Port Royal and Col. Adolfo Garcia Jr., commander of the Marine Corps Installations East- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
MCAS Beaufort is home to five fighter jet squadrons: Four FA/18 Hornet squadrons and one F-35B squadron, and a logistics squadron.
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