U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Shane Gentry, an MQ-9A MUX/MALE pilot with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing poses for a photo at MAG-24 headquarters, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, March 25, 2024.[Courtesy: U.S. Marine Corps]
Key Takeaways:
Major Shane Gentry, a drone pilot, has made history by becoming the first unmanned aviator to be named the U.S. Marine Corps' "Marine Aviator of the Year."
This award is a pioneering event for the Marine Corps' unmanned community, highlighting the increasing significance of drone operations.
Gentry, who flies various UAVs, emphasizes that drones enhance the lethality and survivability of the entire aviation enterprise rather than replacing manned aviation jobs.
The U.S. Marine Corps’ top pilot for 2024 never leaves the ground.
For the first time, a drone pilot, Major Shane Gentry, has been named the Corps’ Marine Aviator of the Year. Gentry was also named recipient of the Alfred A. Cunningham Award by the Marine Corps Aviation Association.
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Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.
