Executive Education Fellowship Recipients

MajGen Robert B. Sofge

Our first recipient, Major General Robert B. Sofge, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2011.  Bob is a highly decorated Marine aviator who is currently serving as the Commanding General, U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa, in Stuttgart, Germany.  As a General Officer, he also served as the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (UCJ5), United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, Deputy Commander for Marine Forces Pacific in Hawaii, Director of the Combined Joint Operations Center in Baghdad, Iraq, and as the Assistant Wing Commander of the 3rd Marine Air Wing in Miramar, CA.  Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1982, Bob served in Japan, Korea, and the Philippines before commissioning as an Officer and becoming a Naval Aviator.  Selected to fly the AV-8B Harrier, he has flown combat missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Iraq from both land and sea bases, and served as Commander of Marine Attack Squadron-311 and Marine Aircraft Group 14.  His staff assignments include Head, Strategic Assessment Branch, Programs & Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps in the Pentagon; Defense Resource Analyst for the Joint Staff; Battle Captain for the 3rd Marine Air Wing in Al Asad, Iraq; Requirements Coordinator for Harriers for the Deputy Commandant for Aviation; Weapons and Tactics Instructor at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 in Yuma, AZ; and various squadron billets in logistics, operations, and maintenance. He is also a qualified Landing Signals Officer and Jumpmaster.  Bob graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a BS in Political Science in 1990, attended The Basic School in 1991, and completed Naval Flight School in 1993.  He has also earned an MBA in Military Management from Touro University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Bob and his wife, Adrianne, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, have two children.

MajGen William J. Bowers

Our second recipient, Major General William J. Bowers, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2012.  Bill is a Combat Engineer Officer, who is currently serving as the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruiting Command in Quantico, VA.  Prior to this, Bill served at Marine Corps Installations Pacific in Okinawa, Japan, and was President of Marine Corps University in Quantico, VA.  He was commissioned in 1990 after graduating with distinction from Virginia Military Institute.  After completing The Basic School and Marine Corps Engineer School, he served in a variety of assignments in the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade on Kaneohe Bay, HI, from 1991-1994.  He subsequently served as a recruit training Series Commander and Company Commander; combat engineer Company Commander, Operations Officer, Executive Officer; and Recruiting Station Commander.  He commanded Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 in Beaufort, SC, from 2007 – 2009, and then 6th Marine Corps District from 2012-2015.  From 2015-2017, he served as the Military Assistant to the 33rd and 34th Assistant Commandants of the Marine Corps.  Brigadier General Bowers’ decorations include the Legion of Merit (with gold star), the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two gold stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.  He was named “Combat Engineer Officer of the Year” in 1998 and has received several writing awards.

Bill and his wife, Heather, have three children.

MajGen David L. Odom

Our third recipient, Major General David L. Odom, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2012.  An infantry officer and veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, David is currently serving as the Commanding General, 2^nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, NC. Throughout his career, David has commanded at all levels, from rifle platoon through task force and brigade.  He has also served on staff at The Basic School, the Infantry Officer Course, the MAGTF Staff Training Program, United States Special Operations Command, and III Marine Expeditionary Force.  David is a distinguished graduate of The Basic School; Amphibious Warfare School; the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (Col Bevan G. Cass Award recipient); the School of Advanced Warfighting (Gen Clifton B. Cates Award recipient); and the Marine Corps War College; and a graduate of The Citadel with a BA in English.

David and his wife, Dr. Michelle Trusso (LtCol, USMC ret), have two children.

LtGen Francis L. Donovan

Our fourth recipient, Lieutenant General Francis L. Donovan, completed the AMP in May 2013.  Frank currently serves as Vice Commander, United States Special Operations Command.  He previously served as the Commanding General of the Second Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, NC, and Assistant Commanding General to the Joint Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, NC.  Frank also completed a two-year tour in the Kingdom of Bahrain commanding Naval Amphibious Forces, Task Force 51 / 5^th Marine Expeditionary Brigade – known as Task Force 51/5.  An infantry and reconnaissance officer, Frank has led Marines and Sailors in all three operational Marine Expeditionary Forces including commanding a Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Battalion Landing, and Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Frank has served in combat, contingency, and expeditionary operations at sea, from the sea and ashore in Southwest Asia, the South Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, Northeast Africa, Central America, and the Western Pacific.  Frank also led a Marine Corps Security Forces Detachment in Crete, Greece, a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) platoon, commanded a Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Eastern Pennsylvania, and was Director of the Expeditionary Warfare School.  Additionally, he led the I Marine Expeditionary Force’s Special Operations Training Group – Special Missions Branch and was the executive officer for the Marine Corps Special Operations Command – Detachment One. Staff tours include service as the J35 at the United States Special Operations Command and Joint Staff, J5 Plans Directorate as Division Chief, Transregional Threats Coordination Cell.  Frank holds a BA in Geography from Towson University, a Master of Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Frank and his wife Kim, a former Naval officer, have two children.

LtGen (Ret) George W. Smith Jr.

Our fifth recipient, Lieutenant General (Ret) George W. Smith Jr., completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2013.  George retired from the Marine Corps in September 2023, concluding over 38 years of commissioned service.  His 12 years as a General Officer included assignments as the Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA; Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense; Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters, Marine Corps; and Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, U.S. Central Command in Tampa, FL.  An infantry and reconnaissance officer, George served in several infantry and reconnaissance units throughout the Marine Corps.  In 2002-2003, George served as the lead planner for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force for the initial invasion of Iraq.  He made two subsequent deployments to Iraq while commanding 1st Force Reconnaissance Company from July 2004 to October 2006.  George next served as the Commanding Officer, The Basic School in Quantico, VA, from 2007-2010, followed by assignment as the Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.  George was commissioned through the NROTC program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1985.  He graduated with honors from The Basic School, the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Warfighting (General Clifton B. Cates Award recipient), and the Marine Corps War College, where he earned a MA in Strategic Studies and was awarded First Place in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Essay Contest for his essay entitled, “Avoiding a Napoleonic Ulcer: Bridging the Gap of Cultural Intelligence.”

George is married to his wife, Amy, and he has three children.

LtGen Eric E. Austin

Our sixth recipient, Lieutenant General Eric E. Austin, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2013.  Eric is a Marine aviator who is currently serving as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.  Eric previously served as the Commanding General of 1^st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1991, earned his wings as a naval aviator in 1994, and was selected to fly the AV-8B Harrier.  He has extensive operational and tactical experience in the AV-8B, including deployment aboard amphibious shipping as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit and combat experience from multiple deployments to Kuwait and Iraq.  He commanded Marine Attack Squadron 211 from May 2007 to November 2008, commanded Marine Aircraft Group 14 from June 2014 to June 2016, and served as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command from June 2017 to June 2018 and the Deputy Director, Joint Training assigned to the Joint Staff, J-7 from June 2018 to June 2020.  Other staff assignments include Director, Capabilities Development Directorate; Combat Development & Integration; Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing; Pacific Command Action Officer, Operations Directorate for the Joint Staff; Executive Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 13; Executive Officer, Marine Attack Squadron 513; Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1; and various squadron billets in operations, aviation maintenance, aviation safety, and pilot training.  He is a school-trained Aviation Safety Officer, a qualified Landing Signals Officer, and a Weapons and Tactics Instructor.  Eric graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering in 1991, was a distinguished graduate of The Basic School in 1992 and completed flight school in 1994.  He was awarded a Masters of National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2010 and graduated from the Marine Corps University Senior Planner’s course in 2012.

Eric and his wife, Laura, have two children.

BGen (Ret) Kevin J. Killea

Our seventh recipient, Brigadier General (Ret) Kevin J. Killea, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2014.  Kevin retired in July 2019 and is now the Director of Marine Corps Programs at BAE Systems Inc.  Kevin previously served as the Commanding General at Marine Corps Installations West – Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.  He served as the Chief of Staff Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq from June 2015 to June 2016.  Prior to his overseas tour, he served as the Director of Futures Directorate, Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, and Vice Chief of Naval Research.  Kevin’s command tours include Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 from November 2004 to June 2006, participating in the Unit Deployment Program and exercises in the Western Pacific; and Marine Aircraft Group 11 from July 2009 until June 2011, which supported multiple unit deployments in support of global commitments.  His operational tours include: VMFA-323 where he deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Carrier Air Wing 2 and participated in Operation Southern Watch; and VMFA(AW)-224 where he deployed to Aviano, Italy, in support of Operation Deny Flight and Deliberate Guard and to Iwakuni, Japan, as part of the Unit Deployment Program.  Kevin’s staff tours have been with Aviation Plans, Programs and Budget Branch of Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation; the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Policy in Washington, D.C., as the Assistant Director, Land Domain, for Homeland Defense Policy; and as the Aviation Weapons Requirements Branch Head, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation.  His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, and the Air Medal Strike/Flight Award with Bronze Numeral “2.”  He is a graduate of St. John’s University in Queens, NY; the Naval War College in Newport, RI; and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University, Washington, D.C.

Kevin and his wife, Kathy, have three children.

LtGen Stephen D. Sklenka

Our eighth recipient, Lieutenant General Stephen D. Sklenka, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2014.  Steve currently serves as the Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii.  He has led Marines and Sailors at multiple levels throughout his career with command tours as a Platoon Commander; Company Commander of three companies; Combat Logistics Battalion Commander; the Commanding Officer of Combat Logistics Regiment – 15, the Logistics Combat Element of Regional Command Southwest in Helmand Province, Afghanistan; and the Commanding General of 1st Marine Logistics Group.  His combat and deployment history include Operation Just Cause in Panama; Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm during the liberation of Kuwait; Operation Restore Hope conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) operations in Somalia; HA/DR actions along the United States Gulf Coast; Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province and in the North Arabian Gulf; and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.  Steve’s staff tours include J5 Director of Strategy and Plans for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Principal Director, South and Southeast Asia for Asia & Pacific Security Affairs in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics at Headquarters, Marine Corps; Deputy Logistics Officer for United States Special Operations Command; Branch Head in Plans, Policy, and Operations at Headquarters, Marine Corps; and instructor duty at The Basic School.  Steve graduated with distinction from the Marine Corps’ Amphibious Warfare School where he also received the Combat Service Support Honor Graduate award. He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval Command and Staff College; is a graduate of the Air War College Nonresident Program; and was a Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.  He has a BS in History from the United States Naval Academy; a MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College; and a MA in Unconventional Warfare/Special Operations Low Intensity Conflict from American Military University.

Steve and his wife, Lauren, have one daughter.

Col (Ret) David J. Eskelund

Our ninth recipient, Colonel (Ret) David J. Eskelund, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2014.  Dave is retired and currently is the Chairman of the Agriculture Advisory Board to the County Commissioners of Chatham County, NC.  He and his wife own and operate Fidelis Fields Farm outside of Siler City, NC.  Additionally, he is the assistant golf coach for Chatham Central High School.  David previously served as the Director of the Marine Corps War College, Marine Corps University in Quantico, VA.  He has served in a variety of billets in the operating forces including: Platoon Commander 7th Motor Transport Battalion; Company Commander 7th Engineer Support Battalion; Motor Transport Officer 6th Marine Regiment; Truck Company Commander, 2D Marine Division; and Battalion Commander, Combat Logistics Battalion – 6.  Dave additionally served on Marine Security Guard Duty as Inspecting Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer for Companies A and E in Frankfurt, Germany.  Dave was assigned as an Action Officer in Installations and Logistics, Logistics Policy and Operations, and served as the Marine Liaison Officer to Military Sealift Command.  He also served as the first Commanding Officer to the Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group (MCLOG), Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command in Twentynine Palms, CA.  Dave received an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M, and is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, The Norwegian Defense Staff College, and Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF).  He is a Western European Foreign Area Officer and has served on Joint Duty with the Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters.  Dave participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Restore Hope (Somalia), Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

David and his wife, Kristi, have five children.

LtGen James F. Glynn

Our tenth recipient, Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2014.  Jim currently serves as the Deputy Commandant for Manpower & Reserve Affairs at HQMC, Quantico, VA.  He had previously served as the Commander, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) at Camp Lejeune, NC, since June 2020.  Prior to that, Jim served as Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and the Eastern Recruiting Region.  As the Deputy Commanding General of the Special Operations Joint Task Force for Operations Inherent Resolve (SOJTF-OIR), Jim deployed to Baghdad, Iraq for a year.  His Pentagon assignments were Director of the Office of U.S. Marine Corps Communication and Military Assistant to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.  As a Colonel, Jim commanded MARSOC’s Special Operations School at Camp Lejeune, NC, where he was responsible for the assessment, selection, initial and advanced training of Marines in special operations.  His career began as a Rifle Platoon Commander throughout Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and he went on to serve in a variety of command and staff billets at Marine Barracks 8th & I, Washington, D.C.; 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, CA; Marine Corps Recruiting Station, San Antonio, TX; and I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.  Throughout these assignments, Jim deployed with four Marine Expeditionary Units (Special Operations Capable), and while assigned to the G-3, Future Operations, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force he served in Fallujah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He subsequently returned to Iraq in 2006-2007, as the Commander of Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).  He is a joint qualified officer following a three-year assignment with Special Operations Command – Africa, Stuttgart, Germany, where he was the Director of Operations and Director of Strategy and Plans.  Jim is a native of Albany, NY, and his service as a Marine began in May 1989, after graduating from the United States Naval Academy with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.  His education includes MS in National Security Affairs from the U.S. Army War College and a MS in Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

Jim and his wife, Denise, have two children.

Col (Ret) Christopher D. Patton

Our eleventh recipient, Colonel (Ret) Christopher D. Patton, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2015.   Chris is an attack helicopter pilot and unmanned aircraft mission commander who retired from the Marine Corps after 28 years of service and is now working with Lockheed Martin in Arlington, VA.  Chris also operates a farm in Virginia growing a variety of crops.  After receiving his commission in 1992, Chris served as a Field Artillery Officer with 1st Battalion 12th Marine Regiment.  After serving one tour in artillery he transitioned to aviation and earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1997.  His aviation fleet assignments include tours with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 and Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 in North Carolina.  Additionally, he served as the Commanding Officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 in Camp Pendleton, CA, and Marine Aircraft Group 24 in Kaneohe Bay, HI.  He has deployed overseas six times, four of which were combat tours, where he flew over 100 combat missions in the Cobra and served as the mission commander on over 200 unmanned aircraft (UAV) combat missions.  Chris’ staff assignments include serving as the UAV Requirements Officer in the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, UAV Cell Leader in Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation, and the UAV Action Officer on the Joint Staff J-8, the Assault Support Branch Head in Headquarters Marine Corps 9HQMC) Department of Aviation in the Pentagon, and the Chief of Staff for the HQMC Department of Aviation.  His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit with two gold stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, two Individual Action Air Medals with V and strike/flight numeral 6, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V, the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver star.  He is a graduate of the Marine Corps War College where he earned a Masters of Strategic Studies degree.  Additional degrees include a BA in psychology from Eckerd College and an MBA.

Chris and his wife, Tami, have three children.

Col (Ret) Todd P. Simmons

Our twelfth recipient, Colonel (Ret) Todd P. Simmons, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2015.  Todd retired from the Marine Corps in November 2023 after serving as the Director, Expeditionary Warfare School Quantico, VA.  He has served in a variety of billets in the operating forces from platoon commander to MEU Commander, eventually serving in all three MEFs and all four Marine Divisions.  He has been assigned to Inspector-Instructor Duty, served as a monitor in Manpower and Reserve Affairs and led the MAGTF Staff Training Program.  He was a Strategic Advisor to the Commander International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan and a Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.  Todd participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and contingency operations in the Balkans.  He deployed to sea multiple times with Marine Expeditionary Units from the East Coast, West Coast and Okinawa.  Todd is a native of Watervliet, NY, and received his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University.  He is also a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, School of Advanced Military Studies, and the National War College.

Todd and his wife, Erika, have two children.

MajGen Ryan P. Heritage

Our thirteenth recipient, Major General Ryan P. Heritage, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2015.  Ryan currently serves as Director of Operations J3 United States Cyberspace Command.  He previously served as the Commanding General for Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command/Marine Forces Space Command/Marine Corps Information Command, and before that served as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Western Recruiting Region; Deputy Director, Future Operations, USCYBER Command; and was previously a Branch Head within the Programs and Resources Department, Headquarters Marine Corps.  Ryan also served as the Deputy Commander for Marine Forces Cyberspace Command at Fort Meade, MD.  He has served in a variety of billets in and out of the operating forces including rifle Platoon Commander, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment; Company Commander and Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Operational Planner, United States Southern Command; Commanding Officer, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune; Current Operations Officer for both II and III Marine Expeditionary Forces; Future Operations Planner and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, 2nd Marine Division; and Commanding Officer, 6th Marine Regiment.  He has also been assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA, and Marine Barracks, in Washington, D.C.  Ryan received his undergraduate degree in International Relations from George Washington University.  He is also a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School; Marine Corps Command and Staff College where he earned a Masters in Military Studies; and the Army’s War College in Carlisle, PA, where he earned an additional Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies.  Ryan has participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom and operations in the Former Yugoslavia and Haiti.

Ryan and his wife, Chris, have six children.

Col (Ret) James T. Jenkins III

Our fourteenth recipient, Colonel (Ret) James T. Jenkins II, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2015.  Jim is currently providing executive coaching through his company, Integris Leadership, and is serving as an advisor and flight instructor for the Saudi Arabian National Guard in Riyadh.  He works as a faculty member for the University of San Diego, teaching in their Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership Master’s program.  Jim is also serving on the advisory boards for MD3 Consulting, Vita Inclinata, Inc., and THRIVE, a non-profit that teaches entrepreneurship to underprivileged youth in Newark, NJ.  In March of 2023, he completed 5 years as an advisor and flight instructor for the UAE Army in Abu Dhabi, helping to establish an AH-60 Armed Blackhawk battalion.  An AH-1 pilot, he retired from Active Duty in February 2018 after serving 2 ½ years as the Director of Science and Technology and Experiment Divisions, and establishing the Rapid Capabilities Office at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, VA.  Receiving his commission in 1990, Jim has completed four Marine Expeditionary Unit deployments, conducting combat operations in Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, the Horn of Africa, and Iraq, and deployed as part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-CARIB to conduct stability operations in Haiti.  He commanded the “Gunrunners” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 from May 2007 to May 2009, completing two additional deployments to Iraq, while simultaneously supporting operations in Afghanistan with part of his unit.  He also commanded the “War Eagles” of Marine Aircraft Group 29 from May 2013 to June 2015, leading nine subordinate squadrons in supporting multiple global deployments.  As a staff officer, Jim has served in Operations, Training, Maintenance and Safety positions at the squadron and battalion level; as the operations officer at the Marine Corps’ Training Command; as Standardization and Safety Officer at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1; and as an operations officer on the Joint Staff focused on the Pacific region.  His personal awards include two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, two single mission Air Medals with Combat V, nine strike/flight air Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.  He holds a BA from Cornell University; a Masters of Social Sciences degree from Syracuse University; and a Masters of National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Jim and his wife, Anneliese, have two children.

Col (Ret) William C. Berris

Our fifteenth recipient, Colonel (Ret) William C. Berris, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in April 2016.  Will retired from the Marine Corps in the summer of 2019 and currently serves as the Senior Military Advisor for the Saudi Armed Forces in Riyadh.  After serving in the Coast Guard from 1984 to 1991 and in 1992, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1992 and was assigned the occupational specialty of communications officer.  Will has served in a variety of billets including Chief of Staff, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade; Commanding Officer, Cyberspace Operations Group; Director of Cyberspace Plans & Engineering, Special Operations Command Headquarters; and Commanding Officer, 3^rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.  He is a graduate of Western Michigan University and received a Master’s degree from Western Kentucky University.

Will and his wife, Melissa, have four children.

MajGen Matthew G. Trollinger

Our sixteenth recipient, Major General Matthew G. Trollinger, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in April 2016.  Matt is currently serving as the Commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) at Camp Lejeune, NC.  His previous commands include Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5^th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Bahrain, back to the U.S. for duty in the Joint Staff J5, as the deputy director, politico-military affairs for the Middle East.  He is an infantry officer with a diverse background in reconnaissance, security forces and special operations units in a variety of capacities.  Previous command assignments include the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU); 3rd Marine Special Operations Battalion; and First Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Company.  Some of Matt’s other assignments include Director of Operations, Plans, Policies and Operations, HQMC; AC/S-G3/5 for Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command in Camp Lejeune, NC, Operations Officer for the 24th MEU, Operations Officer for Battalion Landing Team 1/8, 22nd MEU, and three years training Reconnaissance Marines in Coronado, CA.  He has had a number of operational deployments, including combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as routine deployments in support of Combatant Commanders across the globe.  A native of Purcellville, VA, Matt received his BS in Civil Engineering from Old Dominion University in 1990.  He is a 1998 graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, and in 2011 he was the Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Matt and his wife, Nancy, have two children.

MajGen Melvin G. Carter

Our seventeenth recipient, Major General Melvin G. Carter, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2016.  “Jerry” is currently serving as the AC/S G2, II Marine Expeditionary Force.  He is a MAGTF Intelligence Officer with in-depth experience in Special Operations and Strategic Intelligence.  Additional intelligence staff assignments include S-3A, 2d Radio Battalion, II Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group (SRIG), S-2A, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable), G-3 Plans, I MEF, Executive Officer for the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency as well as the Executive for the Director, Associate for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency.  Other career highlights include service as the Intelligence Officer for the newly established Marine Corps Special Operation Command, Detachment One (MCSOCOM DET ONE), the J2 for the Naval Special Warfare Task Group, Arabian Peninsula, the J2 for the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command, Arabian Peninsula and the Coalition J2 for the Special Operation Joint Task Force Afghanistan.  Jerry’s combat tours include contingency operations in support of Operation Joint Endeavor with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable), Operation Anaconda with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable), Operations Balkan Justice and Restore Freedom with the Joint Special Operations Command, and Operations Iraqi Freedom I and II with I and II MEFs.  His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star with the Gold Star in lieu of third award, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Joint Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.  Jerry graduated from Morehouse College with a BA. in Banking and Finance in 1992.  His formal military schooling includes the Command and Control Systems Course, the MAGTF Intelligence Officer Course and the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Intelligence Course.  He also served as the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ National Security Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University where his research focused on the U. S. Department of Defense’s ability to achieve Cyberspace Superiority.  He is currently pursuing his Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University and his thesis is titled, “The 21st Century Marine Corps Intelligence Activity–Innovative, Responsive and Resilient.”

Jerry and his wife, Angela, have two children.

BGen Anthony M. Henderson

Our nineteenth recipient, Brigadier General Anthony M. Henderson, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2017.  Tony is a decorated infantry officer, who is currently serving as the Commanding General Marine Corps Training Command.  He previously served as Deputy Director, Joint Strategic Plans, Joint Staff, J5 and has extensive operational experience including two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and two in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. Tony’s diverse experiences include serving in positions of increased responsibilities from command and staff assignments throughout Headquarters Marine Corps and the Department of Defense.  Command assignments include the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU); ACS CJ-3/5 for the Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan; and Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 24th MEU.  Some of his other assignments include Executive Officer, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines; Operations Officer, 2d Marine Regiment; Commander, Headquarters and Service Company and as Rifle Company Commander, Company L, Battalion Landing Team 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, 26th MEU (SOC).  A Joint Qualified Officer, Tony has served as Special Assistant to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff and Current Operations Planner for Europe and NATO.  Other staff assignments include Branch Head for Current and Future Operations, Plans, Policy, and Operations, HQMC, Strategic Advisor and Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., and Director of Concepts and Plans with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab in Quantico, VA. Most recently he completed a tour at Camp Lejeune, NC, as Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force and Commanding General, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, gold star in lieu of third award, Bronze Star Medal with “V” for valor, gold star in lieu of second award, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for valor, gold star in lieu of second award and Combat Action Ribbon, bronze device in lieu of second award.  A native of Washington, D.C., Tony received his BA in History and a JD in Law from Southern University and A&M College.  Tony is also a distinguished graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School and holds MS degrees in Strategy and Policy from the Naval (with distinction) and National War Colleges.

Tony and his wife, Sonja, have six children.

LtGen James H. Adams III

Our eighteenth recipient, Lieutenant General James H. Adams III, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2016.  Jim is a highly decorated Marine aviator, currently serving as the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources.  His previous assignments were with Joint Staff J8, Deputy Director for Requirements and Capability Development and   Headquarters Marine Corps, Combat Development & Integration.  Before that, the Commanding Officer of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One in Yuma, AZ.  After completing flight school, Jim was designated a Naval Aviator in 1993 and selected to fly the AH-1 Cobra as his primary aircraft.  He has flown combat missions in both Afghanistan and Iraq and served as Commander of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367.  His staff assignments include Head, Strategic Assessment Branch, Programs & Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps in the Pentagon; Defense Requirements Analyst for the Joint Staff; two tours as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor; and various aircraft group and squadron billets in logistics, operations, and maintenance.  Jim graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1991, with a BS in Computer Science; additionally, earning a MS in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk, VA.

Jim and his wife, Julia, have three children.

Col (Ret) Robert D. Cooper

Our twentieth recipient, Colonel (Ret) Robert D. Cooper, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2017.  “Dirk” retired from the Marine Corps in 2019 after 27 years of service.  He currently serves as Vice President, Business Development Navy and Marine Corps Programs for Amentum/DynCorp International, a leading services provider for our nation’s critical defense and security programs and, currently, the largest aviation services provider to the Department of Defense.  Dirk previously served at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. as the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps and, before that, as the Expeditionary Air Warfare Branch Head, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare Directorate (OPNAV N98).  Prior to his Pentagon tour, Dirk was the Commander of Marine Aircraft Group 31, and commanded Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401, the Marine Corps’ only professional Adversary squadron.  As a Marine F/A-18 pilot, he has deployed numerous times, both land-based and aircraft carrier-based, to the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific holding positions in operations, maintenance, administration and aviation safety.  Dirk is a veteran of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and flew combat missions over Serbia in Operation Allied Force.  His staff assignments include U.S. Air Forces Central Command as Chief of Weapons and Tactics; U. S. Forces-Afghanistan as J-3 Air Officer; Second Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan as Battle Captain, leading the Tactical Air Command Center and as Future Operations Officer.  Dirk served as Executive Officer and Fighter Tactics Instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) instructing in the F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon.  He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a BS in Aerospace Engineering in 1992.  He earned a MBA with an International Business concentration from the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina in 2010.  His personal decorations include two Legions of Merit, four Meritorious Service Medals, Air Medal-individual action with combat “V”, Air Medal-Strike Flight Award, Joint Commendation Medal, and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one with combat “V”.  Dirk has accumulated over 3,300 flight hours primarily in tactical fighters including the F/A-18, F-35, F-16 and F-5.

DIrk and his wife, Mary James, have three children.

Col (Ret) Christopher A. Tavuchis

Our twenty-first recipient, Colonel (Ret) Christopher A. Tavuchis, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2017.  Chris retired from Active Duty after 31 years of faithful and dedicated service on March 1, 2022, and assumed a position at the Marines’ Memorial Association & Foundation.  Chris’s last served assignment on Active Duty was the Commanding Officer, Marine Artillery Detachment, Fort Sill, OK.  He assumed that billet after serving as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA), Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, VA.  He served with distinction at every level of artillery command including Sierra Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, as a Captain; 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, as a Lieutenant Colonel; and as the Commanding Officer of the 11th Marine Regiment (The Cannon Cockers,) as a Colonel.  Commissioned in 1991, he served as a Forward Observer, Guns Platoon Leader, and Battery Executive Officer in 1st Battalion, 10th Marines.  After serving with 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, Marine Corps Security Forces, Naval Air Station, North Island, CA; the 31st MEU, Okinawa, Japan; Logistics Officer, Firing Battery Commander, and Operations Officer for 5th Battalion, 11th Marines; Requirements Officer, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; Battalion Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines; Fires and Effects Officer, 5th Marine Regiment in OIF; Operations and Executive Officer, 11th Marine Regiment; Deputy Division Chief, Arabian Peninsula Division, Joint Staff, J-5, Pol/Mil Directorate; Ground Colonels’ Monitor, Manpower Management  Division, M&RA; Branch Head, Analysis Branch, Programs and Evaluation Division, Programs and Resources Dept, HQMC.  Chris is a graduate of:  The Basic School; The U.S. Army Field Artillery Officers Basic Course; Amphibious Warfare School; the USMC Command and Staff College (Non-Resident Program); and, the National War College, earning a MS in National Security Affairs.  Previously, he earned a BA in International Relations from the University of Manitoba and subsequently earned an MA in Ground Warfare, and an MBA in Program and Acquisition Management from American Military University.

Chris and his wife, Shelagh, have two children.

BGen Kelvin W. Gallman

Our twenty-second recipient, Brigadier General Kelvin W. Gallman, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2017.  Kelvin is a helicopter and tiltrotor pilot who is currently serving as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Assistant Wing Commander.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1994, earned his wings as a naval aviator in 1997, and was selected to fly the CH-46E Sea Knight.  Kelvin later transitioned to the MV-22B Osprey.  He has extensive operational and tactical experience in both the CH-46E and the MV-22B, including several deployments aboard amphibious shipping as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and combat experience from multiple deployments to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.  He commanded Marine Aviation and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, AZ, from May 2018 to November 2019 and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (VMM-261) from June 2013 to April of 2015.  Kelvin’s staff tours have been with MAWTS-1 as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor; Aviation Plans, Programs and Budget Branch of Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation; Executive Officer of The Marine Corps’ Officer Basic School (TBS) and the Joint Staff J8 as the Joint Capabilities Division Chief / JROC Secretariat.  He received his undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering from Tuskegee University. He is also a graduate of the Naval War College in Newport, RI; where he earned a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies; and the National War College in Washington, D.C., where he earned an additional Masters in National Security Strategy.

Kelvin is married to his wife, Janna.

Col (Ret) Denise M. Mull

Our twenty-third recipient, Colonel (Ret) Denise M. Mull, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2018.  Denise retired from the Marine Corps after 28 years of service in the fall of 2020.  She previously served as the Commanding Officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 25 based in Camp Lejeune, NC, and recently served as the SPMAGTF-CR-AF 20.1 Commanding Officer.  Prior to that, Denise served as a company commander and commanded Combat Logistics Battalion 2.  In addition to multiple tours with 2d Marine Logistics Group, Denise’s other tours include: Marine Air Control Squadron 2, School of Infantry-East, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, United States Central Command, and Marine Corps Forces Central Command and 2d Marine Division.  She participated in the Kosovo Campaign, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.  Denise is a native of Nogales, AZ, and received her undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona.  She is also a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.

Denise is married to Hank Mull, a retired Marine Colonel.

BGen James A. Ryans II

Our twenty-fourth recipient, Brigadier General James A. Ryans II, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2018.  Jim currently serves as the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Western Recruiting Region, San Diego, CA, previously serving as a Marine Corps Fellow to the Council on Foreign Relations.  Prior to his selection as a Fellow, he served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy.  James previously served as Deputy Commander of Taskforce Southwest, a task-organized Marine Unit designed to deploy to Afghanistan and as Commanding Officer of 8^th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, in Camp Lejeune, NC.  He has also served in 2d Marine Division as a rifle platoon commander and rifle company executive officer in 1st Battalion 8th Marines, a rifle company commander in 2d Battalion 8th Marines, and a battalion commander in 3rd Battalion 6th Marines, and as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters Battalion.  He served as Assistant Operations Officer, Operations Officer and Executive Officer of 8th Marine Regiment.  Additionally, Jim has served as the Future Operations Officer of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, with Marine Corps Recruiting command, with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, and the Joint Staff.  He has completed multiple combat deployments and participated in Operation Silver Wake, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. James graduated from Jacksonville University with a BS in Physics, and his military schools include Infantry Captains Career Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College.

Jim and his wife, Krista Lee, have four children.

MajGen Jason L. Morris

Our twenty-fifth recipient, Major General Jason L. Morris, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2018.  Jason was commissioned in May 1992 and is currently assigned as the Director of Operations at HQMC, Quantico, VA.  An infantry officer who has commanded Marines at all levels from 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel over the course of his 29 year career, he previously served as Commanding General of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Western Recruiting Region, San Diego, CA.  Jason also Commanded 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment as a lieutenant colonel during its 2010-11 deployment to Sangin District in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and the 9th Marine Corps District as a colonel from 2014-17 where he was responsible for Marine Corps’ officer, enlisted and prior service recruiting across 13 Midwestern states.  Jason has also served as an instructor at The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course, deployed three times to the western Pacific and twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, commanded Marine Corps Recruiting Station Portland, OR, and served at the NCJ3 at the United States Northern Command in Colorado Springs, CO and served AC/S G3 Operations, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, CA, and then as the Commanding General, Training Command, Quantico, VA.  He was the 2001 Marine Corps Leftwich Award recipient for superior operational performance while serving as the commanding officer, Company B, Battalion Landing Team 1/5,  31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Jason holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, a Masters in Military Studies from the USMC Command and Staff College, a Masters in Operational Studies from the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting, and a MA in National Security and Strategy Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.  He graduated with honors or distinction from The Basic School, the Amphibious Warfare School, the USMC Command and Staff College, the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting, and the U.S. Naval War College.

Jason and his wife, Jane Conwell, have two children.

MajGen James B. Wellons

Our twenty-sixth recipient, Major General James B. Wellons, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2018.  Jim is a Marine aviator from Victoria, VA, and is currently serving as Commanding General, 3^rd Marine Air Wing in San Diego, CA.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, earned his wings as a naval aviator in 1995, and was selected to fly the AV-8B Harrier.  Jim has extensive operational and tactical experience in the AV-8B, including deployments aboard amphibious shipping as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit and combat experience from multiple deployments to the Mediterranean and Iraq.  He more recently served as Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs at HQMC P&R,  Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan, Assistant Wing Commander, 1^st Marine Aircraft Wing, Commanding Officer for Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, and he commanded the first Marine F-35B squadron, VMFAT-501.  His staff assignments include: TACAIR Branch Head at Headquarters, Marine Corps Aviation; Executive Officer to the Combatant Commander, U.S. Southern Command; Lead Planner for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command.  He is also a graduate of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, and served various squadron billets in operations, aviation maintenance, aviation safety and pilot training.  Jim graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a BS in Political Science in 1992, graduated from The Basic School in 1993, and completed flight school in 1995.  He was awarded a Masters of Airpower Art and Science from the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies in 2007, and a Masters of National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2013.

Jim and his wife, Grayson, have three children.

MajGen Ryan S. Rideout

Our twenty-seventh recipient, Major General Ryan S. Rideout completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2019.  “Chick” currently serves as the Director, Manpower Management Division of Manpower and Reserve Affairs in Quantico, VA.  His previous operational assignments include Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Pendleton, CA; Director, Military Advisor Group-Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve based in Baghdad, Iraq; Commanding Officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) based at Camp Lejeune, NC; Commanding Officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 467, and Current Operations Officer for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) in Cherry Point, NC; Assistant Operations Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 29, and numerous squadron assignments with HMLA-269 in New River, NC.  His staff assignments include Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Forces Command and Fleet Marine Officer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, VA; Director of Operations and Marine Corps Element Commander for Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West, FL; Director of Aviation Training Systems for 2nd MAW; Executive Officer of The Basic School, Rotary Wing Monitor, and Assistant Aviation Lieutenant Colonels Monitor with Aviation Officer Assignments Branch in Quantico, VA.  As an AH-1W Cobra pilot, Chick deployed multiple times with the 22nd MEU to the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet and served two tours with HMLA-269 in Al Anbar, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Under his command, the 24th MEU conducted Foreign Disaster Relief operations in Haiti following Hurricane Matthew, deployed to the Navy’s Fifth and Sixth Fleets to support Operations Inherent Resolve, Eclipse, Odyssey Resolve, and Yukon Scepter, and provided Defense Support to Civil Authorities in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.  Chick enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1989 and was later commissioned in 1993.  He received his undergraduate degree from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, and earned Masters’ degrees from both the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Marine Corps War College in Quantico, VA.

Chick and his wife, Jackie, have two children.

Col (Ret) David E. Jones

Our twenty-eighth recipient, Colonel (Ret) David E. Jones completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2019.  David officially retired from active duty serving the Marine Corps.  Before his retirement, he served as a Logistics Officer and Foreign Area Officer (Latin America), assigned to Joint Base Meyer-Henderson. He was commissioned in 1992 after graduating from the United States Naval Academy.  A veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, David has commanded at all levels throughout his career.  As a Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 and was the lead unit for 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  His squadron won the James E. Hatch Marine Wing Support Squadron of the Year as well as other unit awards.  As a Colonel, he commanded Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, Camp Johnson, NC.  Under his command, the unit won the DoD Sexual Assault Innovation Award for the Marine Corps for 2014 and 2015, in addition to the W.P.T. Ney Hill Award for Best Full Food Service Contracted Garrison Mess Hall for the Marine Corps.  He has also served in staff billets at Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, 2d MAW; HQSPTBN, 2d FSSG; II Marine Expeditionary Force; Special Operations Training Group (East); 2d Marine Logistics Group; Marine Forces Europe and Africa; and Marine Corps Installations – Pacific; and HQ European Command.  David was also selected as an Olmsted Scholar and studied International Relations at the Universidad de Belgrano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Additionally, he was selected and served as the third Marine Corps Military Aide to the Vice President of the United States.  David is a graduate of The Basic School; Amphibious Warfare School; Army Combined Logistics Career Captains Course (with honors); Marine Corps Command and Staff College (non-resident); and National War College.  His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with gold star in lieu of second award, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

David and his wife, Thais, have three children.

Col (Ret) Wendy J. Goyette

Our twenty-ninth recipient, Colonel (Ret) Wendy J. Goyette, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2019 and retired in July 2023 after serving over 30 years with the Marine Corps.  Her last assignments were as the Chief of Staff and G3 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.  She previously commanded Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group and was responsible for the operation and defense of the Marine Corps’ enterprise network.  She has also commanded Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Kings Bay, GA, and Marine Combat Training Company, Parris Island, SC.  As a career communications officer, Wendy served three tours with 2d and 3d Marine Logistics Groups as a Platoon Commander, G6 Operations Officer, and Assistant Chief of Staff G6, two with 2d Marine Aircraft Wing as a Platoon Commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron-272 and Assistant Chief of Staff G6, and one with Marine Corps Systems Command in Albany, GA, and as the Program Manager for Logistics Information Systems.  Wendy also served with the Joint Staff J6 and deployed as the J6 Operations Officer for Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan in Kabul.  She was stationed twice at Parris Island as a Series Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer.  Wendy is a native of Muscoda, WI.  She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993 with a BS in Political Science and a Certificate in Criminal Justice. She also graduated with distinction from the Naval War College earning a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies and has a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University.

Wendy is married to Curt Goyette, a retired Marine Limited Duty Officer Major, and they have two children.

BGen Adam L. Chalkley

Our thirtieth recipient, Brigadier General Adam L. Chalkley, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2019.  Adam is serving as Commanding General of 3D Marine Logistics Group, tasked with providing uninterrupted logistics support to Marine Forces in the INDOPACIFIC theater of operations.  He was commissioned in 1993 and has commanded at all levels throughout his career.  He previously served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Installation and Logistics (LP) Headquarters Marine Corps in the Pentagon.  As a Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded Combat Logistics Battalion 4 and led the Battalion during combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  As a Colonel, he served as Chief of Staff for the 2d Marine Logistics Group, commanded Combat Logistics Regiment 2 and later the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa, where he led a task force to provide regional security and conduct crisis response operations to safeguard U.S. citizens and diplomatic missions in Africa, while progressing Theater Campaign Plan objectives.  He has also commanded in entry-level training and recruiting environments.  During his staff assignments, he has directed U.S. Marine deployment and distribution operations in Iraq, as well as U.S. Marine logistics operations in Afghanistan.  Additionally, he directed the U.S. European Command’s joint logistics operations, working closely with allies and partners across Europe to promote regional stability and to set conditions for security cooperation activities.  Adam holds a BA in History from Texas A&M University, a Masters in Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.  He was a distinguished graduate of both Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Naval War College.

Adam and his wife, Brandy, have two children.

BGen Fridrik Fridriksson

Our thirty-first recipient, Brigadier General Fridrik Fridriksson, was scheduled to attend the AMP at Harvard Business School in spring 2020.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and protocols set in place, the spring session was canceled.  Fridrik was an infantry officer and veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan.  He is currently serving as Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Forces.  Previously, Fridrik served as the Commanding Officer for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Throughout his career, Fridrik has commanded at all levels, from rifle squad through Marine Expeditionary Unit.  He has also served on staff at The Basic School, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Joint IED Defeat Organization and the 1st Marine Division.  Fridrik is a graduate of The Basic School; U.S. Army Armor Captains Course, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Marine Corps War College.  He graduated from Western Washington University with a BA in Political Science.

Fridrik and his wife, Lisa, have two children.

BGen Jason G. Woodworth

Our thirty-second recipient, Brigadier General Jason G. Woodworth, was scheduled to attend the AMP at Harvard Business School in spring 2020.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and protocols set in place, the spring session was canceled.  Jason currently serves as the Commanding General MCIWEST-MCB Camp Pendleton.  His previous assignment was the Director of Manpower Plans and Policies, Quantico, VA.  Other recent billets include serving as the Secretary of the General Staff for HQMC, and as the Commanding Officer of MCAS Miramar in San Diego, CA.  He has served in various billets in the FMF as a FA-18 pilot, primarily at Miramar, where he commanded VMFA-323 from 2011-2013.  His joint tour was as an Arms Control Inspection team chief with Defense Threat Reduction Agency in Germany, and he also served as a MAWTS instructor in Yuma, AZ.  Jason participated in multiple contingency operations during deployments to the Middle East.  He is a native of Suffield, CT, attended Colgate University for his bachelor’s, has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma and an MA in Security Studies from King’s College, London.

Jason and his wife, Renee, have three children.

BGen Joseph R. Clearfield

Our thirty-third recipient, Brigadier General Joseph R. Clearfield, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in June 2021.  “J.R.” currently serves as the Senior Military Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Defense after serving as the Deputy Commander of Marine Forces Pacific.  His prior assignments were as the Commander for Marine Forces Pacific in Hawaii, Chief of Staff at U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command at Fort George C. Meade, MA, and the Commanding Officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in San Diego, CA.  He has served in various billets in the Fleet Marine Force as an Infantry Officer as both a Commander and a Staff Officer.  He also served as a Military Aide in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy for the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asia & Pacific Security Affairs.  J.R. has served in combat, contingency, and expeditionary operations at sea, from the sea and ashore in Southwest Asia, the South Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, Northeast Africa, West Africa, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Western Pacific.  He attended Union College for his BA and earned a MS in Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (Distinguished Graduate) and a MS from Duquesne University.

J.R. and his wife, Erika, have six children.

Col (Ret) Christopher R. Escamilla

Our thirty-fourth recipient, Colonel (Ret) Christopher R. Escamilla, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in June 2021.  Chris retired from active duty after over 29 years of honorable and faithful service and assumed a position as the Chief Operating Officer for Mistral Inc., a privately held defense firm that seeks to bridge the gap between domestic requirements and technology solutions.  As an artillery officer, his command tours include Engineer Support Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Battery R, 5th Battalion, 11^th Marines as a Captain; 3d Battalion, 11th Marines as a Lieutenant Colonel; Combined Arms Training Center (CATC), Camp Fuji, Japan as a Colonel. Additional operational tours include as a Forward Observer, Fire Direction Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Battery Executive Officer, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines; G-3 Tactics, Readiness, and Training (TRT) Officer, 1st Force Service Support Group; Deputy Assistant Fire Support Coordinator, 1st Marine Division; Force Fires Coordinator and Future Operations Officer, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU); Logistics Officer, and Operations Officer, 11^th Marine Regiment. Chris’ staff tours include Company Grade Monitor, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA); Command Section Head, and Commanding Officer Basic Officer Course (BOC) 04-05 and BOC 02-06, The Basic School; Chief, Policy Coordination Branch, UC5 Policy, Combined Forces Command (CFC)/United Nations Command (UNC)/United States Forces Korea (USFK); N80 (Programming) Coordinator, and Deputy Director, Budget and Execution Division, Program and Resources (P&R) and Branch Head, Manpower Plans, Programs, and Budget, M&RA.  Chris is a graduate of The Basic School, U.S. Army Field Artillery Officers Basic Course, Amphibious Warfare School, USMC Command and Staff College (Non-Resident Program), and the Marine Corps War College earning an MA in Strategic Studies.  Chris holds a BA in Naval Architecture from the United States Naval Academy and a MA in National Security Studies from American Military University.

Chris and his wife, Heather, have four children.

Col (Ret) Michael J. Perez

Our thirty-fifth recipient, Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Perez, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in June 2021.  Mike retired from the Marine Corps and has returned to his aviation roots as an aviation consultant, instructor pilot, and defense contract pilot. After earning his wings as a Marine Aviator in 1997, Mike’s time as an operational AV-8B pilot from 1997-2013 included multiple deployments to Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and to Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.  He served as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor, an Instructor Pilot for the AV-8B training squadron, and commanded Marine Attack Squadron 542.  He also commanded the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from 2017-2019 during two deployments to Europe and Africa as the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force for Crisis Response in Africa, and then to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East aboard U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships.  Mike’s joint and staff assignments include serving as the Operations Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 14, the Current Operations Officer of the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, and as a strategic planner and Executive Officer to the Director of the U.S. Central Command Strategy, Policy, and Plans Directorate.  He also served as the Operations Officer and then Chief of Staff for the Marine Corps Forces Central Command.  Mike was commissioned from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 with a BA in General Science.  He also earned a Master’s degree in Military Art and Science from the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College, and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Mike and his wife, Valerie, have two children.

BGen Stephen J. Lightfoot

Our thirty-sixth recipient, Brigadier General Stephen J. Lightfoot, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in June 2021.  Stephen currently serves as the Commanding General for Task Force 51/5 in Bahrain.  Previous operational assignments include Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 24, Kaneohe Bay, HI (2018-2020); Director CJ7 for Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan, Bagram and Kabul (2017-2018), Commanding Officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, San Diego, CA (2011-2013); Pilot and White House Liaison Officer with Marine Helicopter Squadron One, call sign “Marine One”, Quantico, VA (2001-2005); and numerous global combat/operational deployments.  Previous staff assignments include Director of the Capabilities Development Directorate at Headquarters Marine Corps Combat Development & Integration (2022-2024);  Director of the Aviation Combat Element, Capabilities Development Directorate at Headquarters Marine Corps Combat Development & Integration, Quantico, VA (2021-2022); Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of the Navy, the Pentagon (2020-2021); Branch Head of Aviation Manpower and Support, Headquarters Marine Corps, the Pentagon (2020); Aviation Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels Monitor with Officer Assignments Branch, Quantico, VA (2014-2017); and Executive Officer of The Basic School, Quantico, VA (2009-2010).  Stephen is a Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Command Pilot with every attainable flight instructor qualification and more than 3700 hours in various aircraft, including 900 hours in combat operations, with experience in the AH-1W, AH-1Z, UH-1N, UH-1Y, MV-22B, CH-46E, CH-53E, RQ-7B, RQ-21A, VH-3D, and VH-60N.  He attended Carnegie Mellon University on an NROTC Scholarship (1990-1994) and earned Master’s degrees from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (2005-2006) and the Naval War College (2013-2014).

Stephen and his wife, Sasha, have three children.

Col (Ret) Scott M. Koltick

Our thirty-seventh recipient, Colonel (Ret) Scott M. Koltick completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2022.  Scott is a retired Marine aviator who has started a commercial real estate investment and development company in Raleigh, NC.  He began his career as an enlisted Marine serving in the 4th Marine Division but most recently served as the Assistant Wing Commander, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1996 through the Platoon Leaders Class program, earned his wings as a Naval Aviator in 1999, and was selected to fly the KC-130 Hercules.  Scott has extensive operational and tactical aviation experience, including operational deployments to Europe and Africa and combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.  “Bobcat” is a KC-130J pilot with more than 3,800 hours of military flight time in various aircraft, including 750 hours in combat operations, with experience in the C-130E and KC-130F/R/T/J model aircraft.  His most recent tour was as the Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 11, Miramar, CA.  His other command tours include Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Cherry Point, NC, and a KC-130 detachment in Kandahar, Afghanistan.  Other assignments include Director of Operations and Deputy Commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Korea; Aircrew Programs Manager, Manpower and Support section, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation; Land Plans Staff Officer, NATO Land Component Command, Madrid, Spain; and Senior Watch Officer of CJTF-7 (later Multinational Forces Command) in Baghdad, Iraq.  Scott graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and earned his Masters of International Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Scott and his wife, Charlotte, have four children.

Col (Ret) Ricardo Miagany

Our thirty-eighth recipient, Colonel (Ret) Ricardo Miagany, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in May 2022.  Ricardo recently retired and was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his performance of duty and 30 years of service to the Marine Corps.  He previously served as the Chief of Staff for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific in Camp H.M. Smith, HI.  He is a Marine artillery officer with over ten years of service abroad and operational deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Inherent Resolve.  Ricardo has commanded Marines throughout his career from the platoon to the regiment level including 3d Battalion, 12th Marines in Okinawa, Japan, and 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, CA.  He has also held key staff assignments in operations, training, and resourcing at the Combined/Allied, Joint, and Service levels with Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea, NATO Joint Forces Command Naples Italy, Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. Sixth Fleet, and with the Programs & Resources department of Headquarters Marine Corps.  A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1994, he also holds two Master’s degrees: one in Military Operational Art & Science from Air University (2008) and one in National Security & Strategic Studies from the Naval War College (2013).

Ricardo and his wife, Melissa, have two children.

BGen James W. Lively

Our thirty-ninth recipient, Brigadier General James W. Lively, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2022.  Jim currently serves as the Assistant Division Commander, 2d Marine Division.  Previous operational commands include Director, Expeditionary Warfare School, Commanding Officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 2/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Previous staff assignments include Assistant Chief of Staff/G9 at I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Infantry Advocate and Ground Combat Element Branch Head at HQMC, Plans, Policies, and Operations. Other staff assignments include a tour as a Congressional Fellow with a U.S. Representative on the House Armed Services Committee, faculty instructor at the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, and Operations Officer at the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.  Jim attended Texas A&M University and earned Master’s degrees from Troy University and the National War College.  He also attended the French War College in Paris, France.

Jim and his wife, Ariel, have one daughter.

Col (Ret) Frederick L. Lewis, Jr.

Our fortieth recipient, Colonel (Ret) Frederick L. Lewis, Jr., completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2022.  “Lance” retired from active duty in August 2024 and now works for Anduril Industries.  Designated a naval aviator in 1999 and selected to fly the FA-18 Lance has extensive operational and tactical experience in the FA-18, including two CVN and two land-based deployments, all in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan in operations ENDURING FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN.  He also served in 1st Battalion 2nd Marines as a Forward Air Controller in combat operations in Iraq.  He recently commanded Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, where he increased operational effectiveness, naval integration, allied cooperation and led the 13,500 people aboard the installation through the COVID-19 global pandemic.  Lance’s staff assignments include Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Marine Aviation and Weapons Tactics Squadron One; MATSS Training Officer, MAG-31; Chief of Joint Fires, USCENTCOM, J35; Lead US Planner, J5 Middle East, Permanent Joint Headquarters, United Kingdom; as well as various squadron billets in operations, aviation maintenance, aviation safety, and pilot training.  Lance graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996, with a major in American History.  He was awarded a Master of Arts in National Security Studies (with distinction) from the Naval War College and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College.  In May 2024, Lance earned his PhD in War Studies from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Canada.

Lance and his wife, Wendy, have three children.

Col Henry Dolberry Jr.

Our forty-first recipient, Colonel Henry Dolberry, Jr., completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2023.  Henry currently serves as the Chief of Staff for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan.  His most recent assignments include Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Commanding Officer of Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan.  Under Henry’s charge, Headquarters Squadron won the Calendar Year 2016 National Defense Transportation Association’s (NDTA) Unit of the Year Award for superior performance in logistics and transportation.  Previous Staff assignments include Military Assistant at the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Comptroller/CFO), Chief Instructor at Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS), and as a staff member at Officer Candidates School (OCS).  Henry was designated a Naval Aviator in 2004 and began flying the SH-60B Seahawk.  Henry spent most of his time flying the AH-1W Supercobra and has deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.  Henry is an instructor and an FAA licensed Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) in the UC-35 Cessna Citation.  Henry earned his BA in Political Science from Temple University in 1997, a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps War College in 2018, and graduated from the Marine Corps University Senior Planner’s course in 2022.

Henry is married to his wife, Azra.

Col Wilfred Rivera

Our forty-second recipient, Colonel Wilfred Rivera, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2023.  Wilfred is currently serving as a military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.  Commissioned into the Marine Corps with subsequent meritorious augmentation into the Marine Corps, he commanded at every echelon. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he notably led Combat Logistics Battalion 15 during critical deployments across the Middle East and the Western Pacific, providing crucial support to combat operations and exercises.  As a Colonel, his responsibilities expanded to pivotal roles such as Branch Head, Installations & Logistics at Headquarters Marine Corps, where he formulated maintenance and supply policies critical to Marine Corps ground equipment sustainment.  He also served as Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Installations Command, overseeing operations across 25 global Marine Corps installations, and commanded Marine Depot Maintenance Command.  Under his leadership, the Marine Corps’ Organic Industrial Base underwent significant modernization efforts at Production Plants Albany, Georgia, and Barstow, California, benefiting from his direction of over 2,000 military and civilian personnel.

Wilfred’s career is distinguished by his strategic acumen in logistics and operational planning.  He directed logistics and aviation ground support in the Pacific, played a pivotal role in the logistics surge in Iraq, and served as a planner in Monrovia, Liberia, supporting the United Nations Military Observation Group.  Additionally, as a logistics strategist for U.S. European Command, he enhanced logistical theater security cooperation with allies and partners across Europe, supporting the Supreme Allied Commander Europe Area of Responsibility.

A native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Wilfred holds a BA in Political Science from Texas A&M University and dual Master’s degrees in General and International Management from Troy State University.  His professional development includes the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and the senior course at the NATO Defense College, certifications in Advanced International Protocol, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor.  Recognized for his contributions, he was inducted into the Puerto Rico Distinguished Veterans Hall of Fame in 2021.

Wilfred and his wife, Dana, have two children.

Col Steven M. Sutey

Our forty-third recipient, Colonel Steven M. Sutey, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2023.  Steven currently serves with the Programs and Resources department, Headquarters Marine Corps and is the former Commanding Officer of 2d Marines, an infantry regiment based in Camp Lejeune, NC.  He previously served as a Senior Military Fellow at the Center for a New American Security.  A career infantryman, Steven’s service in the Marine Corps has included amphibious and expeditionary operations around the globe.  He has led units that responded to crises and contingencies in the South Pacific and Middle East, commanded forces engaged in ground combat and counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, partnered with the Australian Army as the commander of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, and supported the Department of Homeland Security along the southwest border of the United States.  Steven also has mentored midshipmen at the University of North Carolina and Duke University, led platoons at Officer Candidates School, developed service strategy for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and authored military strategy and global war plans for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.  Steven majored in history at La Roche College and has earned Master’s degrees from North Carolina State University, the Marine Corps University’s School of Advanced Warfighting, and the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

Steven and his wife Kelly, a former Naval officer, have two daughters.

Col Jeremy S. Winters

Our forty-fourth recipient, Colonel Jeremy S. Winters, completed the AMP at Harvard Business School in October 2023.  Jeremy is a Marine Aviation Command and Control Officer currently serving as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Aviation in Washington, D.C.  He earned his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998.  Jeremy commanded Marines at every rank, and in every major element of the Marine Air Command and Control System, including Company Command in both Marine Air Control Squadron One and Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38, and Commanding Officer assignments at Marine Air Support Squadron One and Marine Air Control Group 38.  He accumulated over 12,000 combat crew hours across every agency in the Marine Air Command and Control System, served aboard Joint Airborne platforms, and performed as a Marine Liaison Officer in both the Central Command and Korea Combined Air Operations Centers.  Jeremy is both a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Courses.  Staff assignments include Aviation C2 Transformation Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation, C3 Department Head at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, Joint Staff Secretary of Defense Orders Book Briefer, and Deputy Director for C4 at Headquarters Marine Corps.  Jeremy is a proud U.S. Naval Academy graduate, where he won a national championship as a collegiate rower.  He holds advanced degrees with distinction from National University, the U.S. Naval War College, National Defense University’s College of Information & Cyberspace, and was the 2018 National War College Distinguished Military Graduate.  He is also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI National Security Fellow.

Jeremy and his wife, Holly, have two children.

Col Dustin J. Byrum

Our forty-fifth recipient, Colonel Dustin J. Byrum, is currently attending the 2024 AMP at Harvard Business School and serves as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Aviation and is the former Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 31 in Beaufort, SC, and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 in Miramar, CA.  As an F/A-18 pilot, Dustin has extensive operational experience both land and carrier-based including combat missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.  He has nearly 3,000 hours in fighter aircraft and is an instructor in both F/A-18s and F-35s.  He has also served as the Air Officer and Forward Air Controller with both 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion where he deployed to Herat, Afghanistan.  Dustin’s staff assignments include Air Officer Department Head with Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, Program and Budget Analyst with the Joint Staff J-8, and Deputy Executive Assistant to the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Dustin graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1998 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He is also a graduate of the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Course (TOPGUN), the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI), and a distinguished graduate of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

Dustin and his wife, Christine, have three children.

Col Lauren S. Edwards

Our forty-sixth recipient, Colonel Lauren S. “Eddie” Edwards, is currently attending the 2024 AMP at Harvard Business School and serves as the Marine Corps Senior Military Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy in Washington, DC.  A career combat engineer officer, she has served in key command billets at all ranks throughout her career and has deployed around the globe.  Outside of the Fleet Marine Force she served in a variety of challenging billets such as Officer Assignments where she was responsible for ensuring that the right active component officers were assigned to the right billet at the right time and maintained their competitiveness for further service; Marine Corps recruiting duty where she was responsible for officer and enlisted accessions from eastern Kentucky, northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, West Virginia, and southern Ohio; and as a branch head at Headquarters Marine Corps’ Programs and Resources department, responsible for coordinating Marine Corps participation in resource allocation decision forums across the Corps, the Services, Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  Additionally, Lauren served on the Office of Secretary of Defense staff as the Military Assistant to the Undersecretary and Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.  Lauren is a native of Smiths Grove, KY, and a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, DC.  She also holds three advanced degrees from Marshall University, the Naval War College, and the National War College.

Col David C. Hyman

Our forty-seventh recipient, Colonel David C. Hyman, is currently attending the 2024 AMP at Harvard Business School and serves as the Branch Head, Manpower Management Officer Assignments, Manpower & Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, VA.  He is responsible for ensuring that the right active component officers are assigned to the right billets at the right time, and remain, by assignment, competitive for advancement from Warrant Officer through Colonel.  David served four years as an enlisted Marine before earning a Marine Officer commission.  As a Marine officer, David commanded at the lieutenant colonel and colonel levels and served as a military police (MP) officer for most of his career serving in key leadership positions in the supporting establishment (police department) and the Fleet Marine Force.  Outside of the MP career field, David served in a variety of challenging/high visibility billets such as the Marine Security Guard (MSG) Program where he was responsible for the readiness of 16 MSG detachments located at U.S. embassies throughout eastern and southern Africa; Marine Corps recruiting duty where he was responsible for officer and enlisted accessions from eastern Maryland, eastern Virginia, and Washington DC; and Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS) where he was responsible for the training, screening, evaluating, and final selection of 5,500 Marine officers through OCS.  Additionally, David served on The Joint Staff in the Pentagon and was assigned an interagency international country portfolio within the Global Operations Directorate and was a Military Faculty Advisor at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.  David is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and holds two advanced degrees from the Naval War College and the Marine Corps War College.

David and his wife, Karna, have one daughter.

Col Madeline M. Melendez

Our forty-eighth recipient, Colonel Madeline M. “Michelle” Melendez is currently attending the 2024 AMP at Harvard Business School and serves as Director, Marine House Legislative Liaison, Office of Legislative Affairs.  A Logistics Officer by trade, she served in a variety of assignments and executed multiple deployments as a platoon commander while assigned in III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan from 2001-2004.  Subsequently, she served in Marine Wing Aviation Support Group 37 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, under 3d Marine Aircraft Wing from 2004-2007, and deployed as a Company Commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Michelle then served within 1st Marine Logistics Group as a Regimental Operations Officer and Battalion Operations Officer, deploying as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting operations in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM.  From 2020-2022, she served as the Commanding Officer of I Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion, I Marine Information Group.  From 2022-2023, Michelle served as the senior Marine fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.  Her staff assignments include Tactical Logistics Instructor, Tactical Training and Exercise Support Group, Plans Officer, Special Projects Directorate under Director Marine Corps Staff, Inspector General, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and Operations Officer, G4, I Marine Expeditionary Force.  Michelle hails from Grapevine, TX, and received a commission from the United States Naval Academy with a BS in English.  She is a graduate of the Logistics Officer Course, Tactical Logistics Officer Course, Maritime Prepositioning Forces Course, Marine Aviation Tactics and Weapons Aviation Ground Support Course, Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College and holds a Master’s degree in Military Studies.

Michelle is married to Colonel Marcos Melendez, and they have two daughters.