By Mike McCombs
The Island News
Col. Mark D. Bortnem was relieved of his command of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on Tuesday morning, April 15, 2025, due to a “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to command.
Bortnem had been the Commanding Officer of MCAS Beaufort for nearly two years since he took command from Col. Karl Arbogast on July 14, 2023.
1st Lt. Lyndsay Cribb, Director of Communications and Strategy (COMMSTRAT) at MCAS Beaufort, initially confirmed Bortnem had been relieved of his command Tuesday morning, but couldn’t comment further.
Nat Fahy, Director of COMMSTRAT for Marine Corps Installations East (MCIE) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune provided The Island News with a statement Tuesday afternoon.
“Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo, Jr., commanding general, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, has relieved Col. Mark D. Bortnem of his duties as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, effective immediately. This decision was made due to a loss of trust and confidence in Bortnem’s ability to command.
“Bortnem is being reassigned to duties as directed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
“In the interim, the air station’s Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS) Executive Officer, Lt. Col. Michael R. Eubanks will serve as acting commander until one is formally appointed. There are no further details to provide at this time.”
While the statement attributes Bortnem’s removal to a “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to command, this is used as a catchall phrase by the U.S. military. In the past 10 years, dozens of officers across all branches have been removed from their commands due to a “loss of trust and confidence.”
Issues with their leadership could range from the work or training environment they establish to misconduct. Without more details, it’s impossible to know exactly why Bortnem was removed.
Bortnem, who grew up in Michigan, has been a U.S. Marine since 1991. He graduated from Ohio State University (B.A. in Political Science) in 1998 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, ending his time as an enlisted Marine and beginning his career as an officer.
Graduating flight school with distinction, he was designated as a Naval Flight Officer in 2002. He then joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 332, with which he deployed to Iraq several times.
After graduating pilot conversion training at Naval Air Stations Corpus Christi and Kingsville with distinction, he was designated as a Naval Aviator and served as a Flight Instructor.
Bortnem was assigned to MCAS Miramar where he completed F/A-18 pilot training and was assigned as the Executive Officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 and Operations Officer with Marine Aircraft Group 11. During this time, he deployed twice to Japan and achieved all advanced qualifications as an F/A-18 pilot.
From 2014-2016, Col. Bortnem was assigned to Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada where he served as an Exchange Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force, with which he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. Upon his return to Canada, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron, becoming the first U.S. officer to command a Canadian squadron.
In 2016, Col. Bortnem was assigned to Camp Smith, Hawaii, where he was assigned as the Marine Forces Pacific Air Officer and Director of Aviation Operations.
From 2018 to 2020, Colonel Bortnem was the Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 in Miramar, Calif. During this time, he deployed to Japan and the squadron was recognized as the recipient of the Robert M. Hanson award as Strike Fighter Squadron of the Year.
In 2020, Col. Bortnem was assigned as a student to Air War College in Montgomery, Ala. In 2022, h was assigned as Director of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division.
Col. Bortnem has nearly 3,000 flight hours, including more than 500 hours of combat time, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force’s Air War College (2021, M.A. in Strategic Studies).
Bortnem’s photo and biography have been removed from the leadership page on the MCAS Beaufort website, https://www.beaufort.marines.mil/.
Lt. Col. Robert L. Steinhauser III remains the Executive Officer on board MCAS Beaufort.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
