Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Col. Sean C. Killeen assumed command of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, in May 2015. The mission of Marine Corps Base Hawaii is to provide facilities, programs and services in direct support of units, individuals and families in order to enhance and sustain combat readiness for all operating forces and tenant organizations aboard MCB Hawaii.

Col. Sean C. Killeen enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1983, attending recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif. and Infantry Training School at Camp Pendleton, Calif.  He graduated in 1987 from Marquette University with a degree in Business Administration, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and was designated a Naval Aviator in September 1989.

Seventy-two hours after reporting to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 at Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii in March 1990, Col. Killeen deployed for three months aboard the USS Belleau Wood. In the aftermath of an earthquake and typhoon, he was redeployed to the Philippines with the Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4-90 in support of humanitarian operations. Upon returning to Hawaii, he was appointed the assistant operations officer. In September 1992, Col. Killeen deployed again aboard the USS Belleau Wood in support of humanitarian relief operations in the wake of Hurricane Iniki on the Island of Kauai. Upon completion of relief operations, he completed a six-month deployment to Okinawa as the director of safety and standardization. Col. Killeen was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, in March 1993 and participated in two seven-month deployments to Okinawa as the director of safety and standardization and as the squadron operations officer.

In August 1995, Col. Killeen joined Marine Helicopter Squadron One, Quantico, Va., where he served as a White House liaison officer and White House command pilot. In 1999 he attended the Defense Language Institute to study Portuguese prior to attending the Escola de Guerra Naval in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2000.  In February 2001, he attended the airborne course at Fort Benning, GA and returned to Brazil as a liaison officer to the Brazilian Marine Corps.

Col. Killeen reported to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, San Diego, Calif. in January 2003, where he served as the deputy G-1. In September 2003, he assumed the duties of executive officer for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Rein) in support of the 11th MEU(SOC). Col. Killeen deployed aboard the USS Belleau Wood in May 2004 for a ten-month combat deployment to Iraq. During the deployment, he participated in the Battle of An Najaf as a battle captain while flying casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and assault support missions from Forward Operating Base Duke. During the month-long battle, the Squadron performed 321 urgent CASEVAC missions, under both direct and indirect enemy fire.

In April 2005, Col. Killeen joined Marine Aircraft Group 39, Camp Pendleton, Calif. as the operations officer, and in December, assumed command of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, "The Purple Foxes." The squadron deployed to Al Taqaddum, Iraq in August 2006 to conduct CASEVAC and assault support missions in the Al Anbar province. The squadron performed 715 urgent CASEVACs, four mass casualty evacuations, and multiple heliborne raids in the vicinity of Ar Ramadi and Fallujah. During the seven-month combat deployment, HMM-364 flew 6,373 hours and amassed 9,885 mishap free flight hours during his eighteen-month tenure.

Col. Killeen was transferred to Quantico, Va. as the director of Aviation Standards for the Marine Corps and was promoted to Colonel in September 2008. In January 2009, he reported to the Defense Language Institute for Spanish and is a 2010 graduate of the Inter-American Defense College.

Col. Killeen served as the director of the U.S. Southern Command Washington Office and liaison officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the chief of Expeditionary Aviation for the Naval Air Warfare Directorate N98; and the G-33 of Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.

Col. Killeen achieved more than 4,400 flight hours with over 850 hours flown in combat. He was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (4th award), Air Medal (12th award), Navy Marine Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star, and other unit and personal awards.