Lieutenant General George J. Trautman III served as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation of the United States Marine Corps from 2007 to 2011.
Education
Lieutenant General Trautman earned a Bachelor of Surgery in Biology from where he was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He earned three masters degrees — an Master of Surgery in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, an Master of Arts in International Relations from Salve Regina University, and an Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He is also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and was a Fellow in residence at the Brookings Institution.
Career
He retired from active duty military service on March 31, 2011. After graduating from The Basic School, Lieutenant General Trautman entered flight training and was subsequently designated a naval aviator. Reassigned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in 1980, Lieutenant General Trautman served with various Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons and the 11th MAU as they began training for the initial sourcing of Western Pacific deployments from I Marine Expeditionary Force.
From 1984 through 1987, Lieutenant General Trautman served as an instructor with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One.
From 1990 through 1993, Lieutenant General Trautman served first as Executive Officer, then as Commanding Officer of HMLA-169. His squadron deployed with 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Desert Storm.
After spending the next year at the Brookings Institution, he was assigned to the Joint Staff, Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Directorate (J-8). From 1997 through 1999, Lieutenant General Trautman served as Commanding Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 36 (MAG 36).
He next served as Branch Head, Aviation Weapon Systems Requirements Branch, Department of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps.
In July 2000, Lieutenant General Trautman was assigned to serve as the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Assistant Wing Commander. In June 2001, he also served as the Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Kuwait. From June 2002 until August 2004, Lieutenant General Trautman served as Deputy Director, Plans and Policy (J-5), United States Central Command while forward deployed at various locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On June 10, 2005, Lieutenant General Trautman assumed command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
On June 8, 2007, Lieutenant General Trautman was promoted to Lieutenant General and ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps to serve as Deputy Commandant for Aviation. Lieutenant General Trautman"s personal decorations include:.
Membership
Lieutenant General Trautman earned a Bachelor of Surgery in Biology from Pennsylvania State University where he was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.