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 been named the U.S. Marine Corps' 2024 Marine Aviator of the Year, marking the first time an unmanned aircraft pilot has received this top honor.
Gentry, who flies for the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, views this recognition as a pioneering moment for the drone community within the Corps.
He emphasizes that drones enhance the overall lethality and survivability of Marine Corps aviation, rather than taking over manned aircraft roles.
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.
