3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Major VerPlanck graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2003 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Information Technology and was commission a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 2004.  Upon completion of The Basic School and Air Support Control Officer’s Course, his first assignment was to Marine Air Support Squadron 2 in Okinawa, Japan.  While there he served as the Direct Air Support Center Company Executive Office and Headquarters and Support Company Executive Officer.  He deployed throughout the Pacific for exercises in South Korea, Australia, and Alaska while earning qualifications as a Helicopter Director, Tactical Air Director and Senior Air Director.  He graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in Yuma, AZ in 2007.

In July 2008, First Lieutenant VerPlanck was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA to study Joint Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (JC4I) and was promoted to Captain.  While completing Expeditionary Warfare School and Command & Staff College, he completed his thesis work on signals intelligence payloads used in conjunction with unmanned aerial systems and received a Master of Science degree in Systems Technology.

In July 2010, Captain VerPlanck departed for HQMC Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) in Washington, DC to serve as the action officer for all USMC tactical radios.  While serving at HQMC C4, he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan and the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan National Army (ANA) regarding officer assignments and force structure.

In July 2013, Captain VerPlanck was assigned to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 in San Diego, CA, where he deployed to Afghanistan and served as a Senior Air Coordinator in the Tactical Air Command Center.  Upon returning from Afghanistan, he was promoted to the rank of Major in Aug 2014 and served as the MTACS-38 Operations Officer.  Major VerPlanck now serves as the MTACS-38 Executive Officer.

Major VerPlanck’s personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.