Commanding Officer
Colonel Lawrence Oliver USMC
Colonel Oliver was born in the District of Columbia in September 1964. He graduated from Jacksonville University in December 1986, earning a B.S. in Biology. After completion of The Basic School and Undergraduate Naval Flight Officer training, he proceeded to VA-128, NAS Whidbey Island, Washington for transition training in the A-6E Intruder.
First Lieutenant Oliver completed transition training in March 1989 and was assigned to VMA(AW)-533, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, where he held billets as the Adjutant, Schedules officer, and B/N training officer. During his tenure with the “Hawks", Lieutenant Oliver deployed to the western pacific, attended the WTI course at MAWTS-1, and participated in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. In June 1992, Captain Oliver was transferred to VMA(AW)-224 where he served as the NATOPS officer and B/N Training officer.
Following transition training to the FA-18D at VMFAT-101 in El Toro, California, Captain Oliver was assigned to VMFA(AW)-224 in Beaufort, South Carolina where he served as the assistant Logistics officer and WSO training officer. With the “Bengals”, Captain Oliver made two Aviano, Italy deployments and completed the WTI and TOPGUN courses. In June 1996, Captain Oliver was transferred to NAS Fallon, Nevada where he served as a TOPGUN instructor.
After attending the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Major Oliver returned to MAG-31, MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina in June 2000. While assigned to MAG-31, he held billets as the MAG Weapons and Tactics officer, Director of Safety and Standardization, Logistics officer, and Operations officer. He deployed to the western pacific as the Maintenance officer for VMFA(AW)-224 and also served as the Executive officer for VMFA(AW)-332. Following a deployment to the Combined Air Operations Center in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar where he assumed duty as the Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on 26 June 2004.
Upon completion of his command tour, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver was transferred to Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, where he served as the Current Operations Group branch chief from June 2006 until June 2008.
After graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Colonel Oliver returned to the Pentagon serving as the Marine Tactical Air Force Analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Analysis from June 2009 until June 2011.
Colonel Oliver is married to the former Shari Savage, of Silver Spring, Maryland. They have one daughter, Samantha Marie.
