The Marine Corps fired the commanding officer of one of the service's most storied air stations on Tuesday ... where he flew combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Col. Mark D. Bortnem was relieved of his duties as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on April 14, and reassigned to duties at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Chloe Johnson/Marine Corps ... be able to maintain and close kill webs and all enemy air assets through an airborne command and control and an “aviation ground support structure that is scalable ...

Marine Corps Col. Mark Bortnem, the commander at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort at the time, speaks in October 2023 at a ceremony at the South Carolina base. (Nathan Saucier/U.S. Marine Corps) ...

Major General Jason Woodworth, commander, Marine Corps Installations Command, and assistant deputy commandant, Installations ...