Strana 31
F/A-18C, BuNo. 165227, LtCol. Clayton D. Gard, CO of VMFA-312 Checkerboards,
MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, November 2022
F/A-18C, BuNo. 1645405, LtCol. William T. Paxton, CO of VMFA-112 Cowboys,
NAS/JRB Fort Worth, 2024
Clayton Douglas Gard III comes from a military
family as the third generation of men of this
name serving in military. He graduated from
Miami Southridge Senior High School in 1983
and received his Bachelor’s Degree in aerospace
engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy
in 1988. Gard’s military career is primarily
associated with flying the F/A-18 Hornet.
He was commander of VMFA-312 from December
2021 to June 2023. During his command, he led
the squadron in major exercises in the Pacific,
such as in Japan during Exercise Ryukyu Vice
23.1 at Kadena Air Base. On May 31, 2023, he flew
his ceremonial final flight with VMFA-312 and,
one day later, handed over command to Lt.Col.
Matthew Gaede. In November 2024, he was
officially promoted to the rank of colonel.
William Thomas Paxton hails from rural
farm country in Berlin, Pennsylvania. He
attended the United States Naval Academy
and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of
Science in Ocean Engineering. Upon graduation,
he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and
reported to The Basic School in July of 2005.
He was designated a naval aviator in July of
2008, and then reported to VFA-106 in Virginia
Beach to learn to fly the F/A-18 in August of
2008. In July 2009, Paxton reported to MCAS
Beaufort, South Carolina, where he was
assigned to VMFA-312 as part of CVW-3 in
preparation for a deployment. In spring 2010,
the Checkerboards deployed on the USS Harry
S Truman (CVN-75) supporting coalition forces
in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.
He finished this tour in 2012 as the Pilot Training
Officer, preparing the unit for a follow-on carrier
deployment. In November 2013, Paxton returned
from his service as Forward Air Controller to join
VMFA- 251. The Thunderbolts embarked on the
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), supporting
Operation Inherent Resolve. He took command
of VMFA-112 in May 2024.
KITS 06/2026
INFO Eduard
31
June 2026