H&HS Commanding Officer

LtCol. Keith Couch is originally from Hyden, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in May 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and was commissioned a 2nd Lt via the Platoon Leaders Class program.

After graduation LtCol. Couch returned to Hyden where he was an assistant high school football coach and remained there until he received orders to The Basic School class "Charlie Company 1994." After completing The Basic School in September 1994, LtCol. Couch reported to Pensacola, Florida, to begin primary flight training. After completing primary flight training in Pensacola, intermediate training in Meridian, Mississippi, and advanced training in Kingsville, Texas, LtCol. Couch was designated a naval aviator in January 1997.

After earning his wings, LtCol. Couch proceeded to the Officer Selection Office in Louisville, Kentucky for a three-month assignment prior reporting to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., in May 1997. While in Cherry Point he was assigned to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203, where he would begin initial training in the AV-8B Harrier. At the conclusion of preliminary AV-8B training in October 1998, LtCol, Couch was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 223 (VMA-223), "The Great American Bulldogs."

Shortly after checking into VMA-223, LtCol. Couch deployed to Twentynine Palms, California, in support of Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) 3 and 4. After the squadron returned from CAX, LtCol. Couch was assigned to the operations department and was slated to deploy with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in Fall 1999. While deployed with the 22nd MEU, LtCol. Couch participated in numerous training as well as operational exercises to include Operation Bright Star (Egypt), Operation Infinite Moonlight (Jordan), Operation Noble Shirley (Israel) and Operation Joint Forge in support of Kosovo operations in the Adriatic Sea. The 22nd MEU returned home in Spring 2000 and the detachment of Harriers returned to Cherry Point. Shortly after returning, LtCol. Couch deployed with VMA-223 to Thessaloniki, Greece, in support of Dynamic Mix, a NATO training exercise, involving 13 countries and more than 15,000 troops, that serves to maintain a Southern Europe readiness posture. LtCol. Couch remained with VMA-223 and held positions as airframes officer in charge, quality assurance officer and maintenance officer until he received orders in October 2001 to report to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment (3/2), in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

In November 2001, LtCol. Couch reported to 3/2 to serve as a forward air controller. After being there only a month, he deployed with his unit to Okinawa, Japan, as part of the Unit Deployment Program. While in Japan, LtCol. Couch was attached to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and deployed to South Korea in support of training exercises with Republic of Korea Marines. LtCol. Couch returned from Japan in June 2002 and deployed again with 3/2 in support of Combined Arms Exercise 10-2002. LtCol. Couch finished his tour with 3/2 in October 2002 and received orders to Marine Aircraft Group 14 located at MCAS Cherry Point.

In November 2002, LtCol. Couch was once again transferred to the VMA-223 Bulldogs. Upon his return, the squadron immediately began preparations for potential operations in Iraq. LtCol. Couch was put in charge and would serve as the squadron's aircraft maintenance officer and would remain in this billet through July 2003. While serving as AMO, LtCol. Couch flew combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Southern Watch and Southern Force. Upon his return from Iraq, LtCol. Couch began working in the operations department as the pilot training officer and would attend the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 04-01 in September 2003 in MCAS Yuma. LtCol. Couch continued to serve in the operations department until he transferred to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 (MWHS-2) in July 2004, where he would serve as the executive officer (XO). While serving as XO, LtCol, Couch was designated as acting commanding officer both in garrison and while forward deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, as the squadron conducted split-site operations in support of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing during its yearlong deployment beginning in February 2005. While deployed LtCol. Couch was an augment pilot with VMA-223 and once again flew combat mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. LtCol. Couch completed his tour with MWHS-2 in June 2006 and received order to report to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for duty in the current operations directorate.

At CENTCOM, LtCol. Couch worked in the Horn of Africa/Maritime Branch and participated in numerous relief operations in the Horn of Africa, while also serving as the sole Marine aviation liaison to the CENTCOM current operations staff for Marine Expeditionary Unit operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

LtCol. Couch served in current operations until July 2008, when he was selected to serve as aide-de-camp to the CENTCOM deputy commander. LtCol. Couch served in as aide-de-camp until July 2009, when he received orders to attend Joint Combined Warfighting School (Phase II) at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. LtCol. Couch completed school on Aug. 31, 2009, and departed CENTCOM on Sept. 7, 2009, en route to MCAS Cherry Point for AV-8B refresher training.

Upon completion of training, LtCol. Couch reported to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to serve as officer in charge of the Marine Aviation Training Systems Site (MATSS) in Yuma in November 2009. There, he was charged with ensuring aviation training standardization and evaluation, providing a medium to voice fleet training issues, managing aviation training facilities and devices, enabling networked training operations, synergizing aviation training operations and bringing MATSS to an initial operating status. LtCol. Couch finished his tour there on May 31, 2010, and took command of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Yuma, on June 10, 2010.

LtCol. Couch has a Master of Science in Management with a certificate in Project Management from Boston University. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College seminar program.

LtCol's personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Individual Action with Combat V, Air Medal with three Strike/Flight Awards, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and numerous unit awards.