Okinawa-based Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 commanding officer Lt. Col. Calischaran G. James has been fired.,The reason cited is a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command.Okinawa, Japan-based Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 commanding officer Lt. Col. Calischaran G. James was relieved of his duties Wednesday, according to a Marine Corps notice.
Maj. Gen. Marcus B. Annibale, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, made the decision “due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to command,” the Marine Corps announced. Military services commonly use “loss of trust and confidence” as a general reason for dismissing senior leadership.
A request for further information regarding the specifics of the dismissal had not been answered by the time of reporting.
“Commanders are held to the highest standards of conduct and must consistently live above reproach,” said 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield in the announcement. “This decision reflects the Marine Corps’ dedication to upholding the trust and confidence that are essential for effective leadership.”
James, originally from Dominica, joined the Marine Corps in 1998 and was commissioned in 2006. In 2020, he received the Marine Corps Aviation Association’s Earle Hattaway Ground Officer of the Year Award. He assumed command of MALS-36 in May 2024.
Lt. Col. Ryan T. Iden has been appointed as interim commanding officer until a permanent replacement is found. Iden joined the Marine Corps in 1997 as an infantryman and was commissioned in 2008.
James’ dismissal follows recent leadership changes in another Marine Osprey squadron, where the commanding officer, executive officer, and senior enlisted leader of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 were fired on October 28, also due to a “loss of trust” in their ability to enforce safety and readiness standards.
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