Biography
Commanding Officer, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163
Lieutenant Colonel David G. Batcheler

Lieutenant Colonel Batcheler was commissioned in the United States Marine
Corps on March 26, 2004 following completion of Officer Candidate School
through the Officer Commissioning Program and graduation from Texas A&M
University with a Bachelors of Science in Ocean Engineering. Upon completion
of The Basic School, he reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for flight training
earning his wings as a Naval Aviator on June 30, 2006. 

Upon successful completion of the CH-46E Medium Lift Assault Support
Helicopter Training Squadron (HMMT-164) at Camp Pendleton, California, LtCol
Batcheler was then assigned to HMM-365 at Marine Corps Air Station New
River, North Carolina in February 2007. He served as the Aviation Combat
Element Embarkation Officer to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and
deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan in support of NATO/ISAF
operations from January to November 2008. 

While a member of VMM-365, he was selected to transition to the MV-22
Osprey, LtCol Batcheler attended Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron
204 and served as the Airframes Maintenance Officer, Pilot Training Officer
and as a graduate of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course,
served the squadron as the Weapons and Tactics Instructor. 

In June 2010 and January 2012, he deployed back to Southwest Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom supporting Marine and coalition
forces. 

In July 2012, LtCol Batcheler reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and
Tactics Squadron One, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona as an MV-22
Instructor Pilot. From July 2012 - December 2015, LtCol Batcheler served in
the MV-22 Osprey Division as a MAWTS-1 Instructor Pilot, large force
exercise evolution coordinator,  MV-22 Division Head and the Executive
Officer specifically from April to December 2015. 

Upon successful completion at MAWTS-1, LtCol Batcheler reported to the
Australian Defence College in Canberra, Australia to attend the Joint
Accredited Command and Staff Course, receiving a high credit and Master's
Degree in Military Studies from the Australian National University, 
and successfully graduating and returning back to the FMF in January 2017. 

Upon return from Australia, LtCol Batcheler was assigned to Marine Aircraft
Group 26 (MAG-26), VMM-162 initially as the Executive Officer. In June 2017,
VMM-162 was assigned as the Air Combat Element to the 26th MEU at which
point LtCol Batcheler became the Operations Officer of VMM-162 (REIN) until
January 2019. As the Operations Officer, he operationally led the unit
during Defense Support to Civil Authorities in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin
Islands in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma and Maria before deploying to the
Middle East executing multiple international training and combat engagements
in a diverse and ever-changing strategically challenging environment.  Upon
return and reassignment from the 26th MEU, LtCol Batcheler became the
Executive Officer of VMM-162 from January to July 2019. 

In July 2019, LtCol Batcheler reported to the Joint Staff at the Joint
Information Operations Warfare Center in San Antonio, Texas as an
Information Operations and compartmented sensitive activities planner until
December 2021. Upon completion of service to the Joint Staff, LtCol
Batcheler reported to MAG-16, MCAS Miramar, CA temporarily as the Operations
Officer until assuming command of VMM-163 "Evil Eyes" on 17 November, 2022.

LtCol Batcheler has flown more than 1900 hours in tactical aircraft,
including over 500 combat flight hours. His personal decorations include the
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (gold star),
the Air Medal (Numeral 9), the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine
Corps Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3 gold stars), the
Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea
Service Deployment (3 gold stars), National Defense Service Medal and the
NATO/ISAF Afghanistan Medal.