The rank of lieutenant general (or three-star general) is the second-highest rank in the United States Marine Corps, and the first to have a specified number of appointments set by statute. It ranks above major general (two-star general) and below general (four-star general).
There have been 45 lieutenant generals in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2000 to 2009, 12 of whom were promoted to four-star general. All 45 achieved that rank while on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. Lieutenant generals entered the Marine Corps via several paths: 24 via Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at a civilian university, 11 via Officer Candidate School (OCS), eight via the United States Naval Academy (USNA), and two via NROTC at a senior military college.
List of generals Entries in the following list of lieutenant generals are indexed by the numerical order in which each officer was promoted to that rank while on active duty, or by an asterisk (*) if the officer did not serve in that rank while on active duty or was promoted to four-star rank while on active duty. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank, active-duty positions held while serving at three-star rank, number of years of active-duty service at three-star rank (Yrs), year commissioned and source of commission, number of years in commission when promoted to three-star rank (YC), and other biographical notes.
+ List of U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant generals from 2000 to 2009 # Name Photo Position Yrs Commission YC Notes 1 Emil R. Bedard Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2000–2003. 3 1967 (NROTC) 33 (1943–) * William L. Nyland 30 Jun 2000 Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2000–2001. Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2001–2002. 2 1968 (NROTC) 32 (1946–) Promoted to general, 4 Sep 2002. 2 Michael P. DeLong 7 Sep 2000 Deputy Commander in Chief/Chief of Staff, U.S. Central Command (DCINCCENT), 2000–2002. Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (DCDRUSCENTCOM), 2002–2003. 3 1967 (USNA) 33 (1945–2018) 3 Gregory S. Newbold 10 Oct 2000 Director, Operations, Joint Staff, J3, 2000–2002. 2 1970 (NROTC) 30 (1948–) * Michael W. Hagee Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, 2000–2002. 3 1968 (USNA) 32 (1944–) Promoted to general, 14 Jan 2003. 4 Garry L. Parks 16 May 2001 Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command (CG MCRC), 1998–2001. Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2001–2004. 3 1969 (Citadel) 32 (1947–) 5 Dennis M. McCarthy 1 Jun 2001 Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Reserve (COMMARFORRES), 2001–2004. Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Reserve/Commander, U.S. Marine Forces North (COMMARFORRES/COMMARFORNORTH), 2004–2005. 4 1967 (NROTC) 34 (1945–) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, 2009–2011. 6 Edward Hanlon Jr. 11 Jul 2001 Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (CG MCCDC), 2001–2002. Deputy Commandant for Combat Development, Headquarters Marine Corps/Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (CG MCCDC), 2002–2004. U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), 2004–2006. 5 1967 (OCS) 34 (1944–) * Robert Magnus 20 Aug 2001 Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2001–2005. 4 1969 (NROTC) 32 (1947–) Promoted to general, 1 Nov 2005. 7 Wallace C. Gregson Jr. 21 Aug 2001 Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Japan/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Japan (COMMCBJ/COMMARFORJ), 2001–2003. Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific/Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific (COMMARFORPAC/COMUSMARCENT/CG FMFPAC/COMCBPAC), 2003–2005. 4 1968 (USNA) 33 (1946–) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, 2009–2011. * James E. Cartwright Director, Joint Force Development, Joint Staff, J7, 2002–2004. Commander, U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM), 2004. 2 1971 (NROTC) 31 (1949–) Promoted to general, 1 Sep 2004. 8 Richard L. Kelly 7 Jun 2002 Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2003–2005. 2 1971 (NROTC) 31 9 Martin R. Berndt 15 Aug 2002 Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, U.S. Strategic Command/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Europe (COMMARFORLANT/COMMARFOREUR/COMMARFOR-SOUTH/COMMARFORSTRAT/COMMCBLANT/CG FMFLANT/CG FMFEUR), 2002–2005. 3 1969 (NROTC) 33 (1948–2011) 10 Gary H. Hughey 24 Sep 2002 Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Transportation Command (DCINCTRANS), 2002. Deputy Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (DCDRUSTRANSCOM), 2002–2005. 3 1970 (NROTC) 32 (1947–) 11 Michael A. Hough 2 Oct 2002 Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2002–2005. 3 1969 (USNA) 33 (–) * James T. Conway Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, 2002–2004. Director, Operations, Joint Staff, J3, 2004–2006. 4 1970 (OCS) 32 (1947–) Promoted to general, 13 Nov 2006. 12 Henry P. Osman 1 May 2003 Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force/Commanding General, Striking Force Atlantic (CG STRIKFORLANT), 2002–2003. Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2003–2004. Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2004–2006. 3 1969 (OCS) 34 (1947–) 13 Robert R. Blackman Jr. 1 Jul 2003 Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Japan/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Japan (COMMCBJ/COMMARFORJ), 2003–2005. Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Europe (COMMARFORCOM/COMMARFOREUR/COMMARFOR-SOUTH/COMMCBLANT/CG FMFLANT/CG FMFEUR), 2005–2007. 4 1970 (NROTC) 33 (1948–) 14 Robert M. Shea 31 Jul 2003 Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems, Joint Staff, J6, 2003–2006. 3 1968 (NROTC) 35 (1948–) 15 Jan C. Huly 2 Oct 2003 Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2003–2006. 3 1969 (NROTC) 34 (1948–) * James F. Amos 9 Sep 2004 Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2004–2006. Deputy Commandant for Combat Development, Headquarters Marine Corps/Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command/Commanding General, Marine Corps National Capital Region/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, U.S. Strategic Command (CG MCCDC/CG MCNCRC/COMMARFORSTRAT), 2006–2008. 4 1970 (NROTC) 34 (1946–) Promoted to general, 2 Jul 2008. 16 John F. Sattler 12 Sep 2004 Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, 2004–2005. Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command/Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (COMMARCENT), 2005–2006. Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, J5, 2006–2008. 4 1971 (USNA) 33 (1949–) * James N. Mattis 4 Nov 2004 Deputy Commandant for Combat Development, Headquarters Marine Corps/Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (CG MCCDC), 2004–2006. Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command/Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (COMMARCENT), 2006–2007. 3 1972 (ROTC) 32 (1950–) Promoted to general, 9 Nov 2007. U.S. Secretary of Defense, 2017–2019. 17 John W. Bergman 10 Jun 2005 Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Reserve/Commander, U.S. Marine Forces North (COMMARFORRES/COMMARFORNORTH), 2005–2009. 4 1969 (OCS) 36 (1947–) U.S. Representative from Michigan's 1st congressional district, 2017–present. 18 John F. Goodman 3 Aug 2005 Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific (COMMARFORPAC/CG FMFPAC/COMCBPAC), 2005–2008. 3 1971 (USA) 34 (1945–) 19 Joseph F. Weber Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Japan/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Japan (COMMCBJ/COMMARFORJ), 2005–2007. Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Europe (COMMARFORCOM/COMMARFOREUR/COMMARFOR-SOUTH/COMMCBLANT/CG FMFLANT/CG FMFEUR), 2007–2008. 3 1972 (Texas A&M) 33 (1950–) Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation, 2014–2016. 20 Emerson N. Gardner Jr. 1 Sep 2005 Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2005–2007. Principal Deputy Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2007–2010. Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2010. 5 1978 (NROTC) 27 (1951–2022) 21 Richard S. Kramlich 15 Sep 2005 Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2005–2008. Director, Marine Corps Staff (DMCS), 2008–2009. 4 1973 (USNA) 32 22 John G. Castellaw 3 Nov 2005 Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2005–2007. 2 1972 (NROTC) 33 23 Frances C. Wilson 14 Jul 2006 President, National Defense University (P-NDU), 2006–2009. 3 1972 (NROTC) 34 (1948–) 24 Keith J. Stalder 2 Aug 2006 Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2006–2008. Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific (COMMARFORPAC/CG FMFPAC/COMCBPAC), 2008–2010. 4 1973 (OCS) 33 25 Ronald S. Coleman 27 Oct 2006 Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2006–2009. 3 1974 (NROTC) 32 (1948–) 26 Richard F. Natonski 7 Nov 2006 Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2006–2008. Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Atlantic/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic (COMMARFORCOM/COMMARFOREUR/COMMCBLANT/CG FMFLANT), 2008–2010. 4 1973 (NROTC) 33 (1951–) 27 George J. Trautman III 8 Jun 2007 Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2007–2011. 4 1974 (NROTC) 33 (1952–) 28 Richard C. Zilmer Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Japan/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Japan (COMMCBJ/COMMARFORJ), 2007–2009. Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2009–2011. 4 1974 (NROTC) 30 29 Samuel T. Helland 5 Nov 2007 Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, 2007–2009. 2 1973 (OCS) 34 (–) * John M. Paxton Jr. 13 Mar 2008 Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff, J5, 2008. Director, Operations, Joint Staff, J3, 2008–2011. Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Africa/Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (COMMARFORAF), 2011–2012. Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic (COMMARFORCOM/COMMARFOREUR/CG FMFLANT), 2012. 4 1974 (OCS) 34 (1951–) Promoted to general, 15 Dec 2012. 30 Duane D. Thiessen 29 Apr 2008 Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters Marine Corps, 2008–2010. Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific (COMMARFORPAC/CG FMFPAC/COMCBPAC), 2010–2011.