Meet Col. Marosko III: 325th OG commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Reel
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A 5-year-old boy stands on the side of a runway as the sun beats down on his back. The sound of hundreds of people around him is quickly drowned out as the U.S. Thunderbird thunders from behind the surprised crowd.

As fast as the red, white and blue aircraft flies across the sky, it instills a dream.

"I wanted to fly ever since I saw the Thunderbirds in an air show," said Col. Max Marosko III, 325th Operations Group commander.

A childhood dream is now reality for Colonel Marosko, who is the new commander of the 325th OG and the son of a retired Air Force colonel and fighter pilot.

More than 20 years ago, he was commissioned from the U.S. Air Force Academy. It was during his junior year that he met his wife. They now have two sons the oldest attending college in the Washington, D.C. area and the youngest is a senior at Moseley High School.

After years of filling assignments from Washington D.C. to Hawaii, Colonel Marosko and his family find themselves back in the Florida Panhandle for the fifth time in his Air Force career.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to be here," Colonel Marosko said. "Having commanded at the squadron level and now given the opportunity to command here at the OG, we couldn't be happier. I didn't initially know if I would make the Air Force a career until I realized how much I just really like doing my job."

After graduating National War College, Fort McNair, Washington D.C. and then completing an unaccompanied-one-year assignment in Turkey, Colonel Marosko rejoins his family at the OG.

"Boating has been a new hobby since being back here," said the colonel. "My wife and I are ecstatic to be back."

The colonel spends his free time with his family out on the boat or going to the base's skeet and trap range with his son.

"We are looking forward to being back in the Tyndall community," Colonel Marosko said. "My wife and I look forward to serving the men and women of the Operations Group the best we can."