Duane D. Thiessen

Last updated
Duane D. Thiessen
Duane d thiessen.jpg
Duane D. Thiessen as Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Korea
Born (1951-03-11) March 11, 1951 (age 73)
Goessel, Kansas
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1974–2012
Rank Lieutenant general
Commands VMAT-203
Marine Aircraft Group 13
Inspector General of the Marine Corps
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
USMC Forces Korea
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)

Duane D. Thiessen (born March 11, 1951, in Goessel, Kansas) is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps, and is the past commander of the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific, serving from September 2, 2010, until his retirement on August 7, 2012. Lt. General Thiessen is currently serving as president and CEO of the National Naval Aviation Museum Foundation located on Naval Air Station Pensacola. [1]

Contents

Biography

Thiessen was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1974, after graduating from Pittsburg State University. Following completion of flight training, he reported to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, for transition training to the AV-8B Harrier II. Thiessen's initial assignment as a Harrier pilot was with VMA-542, where he performed in both Operational and Maintenance billets while completing two deployments to Okinawa and participating in a Mediterranean deployment aboard the USS Nassau. In July 1982, Captain Thiessen reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 in Yuma, Arizona, where he served as an AV-8 tactics instructor.

In December 1985, Major Thiessen returned to Cherry Point and was assigned to VMA-231 as the Operations Officer, where he led a detachment of six AV-8Bs that deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon returning to the United States in 1988, Major Thiessen attended the Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island. Following graduation he reported to Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, D.C., and served as an assistant to the AV-8B program manager.

In June 1991, Lieutenant Colonel Thiessen assumed command of VMAT-203 at Cherry Point. After relinquishing command, he returned to Washington, DC, to attend the National War College. He was subsequently assigned as the Marine Requirements Officer in the Joint Strike Fighter Program office. Colonel Thiessen then served until June 1999 as the Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 13 in Yuma.

Following command of MAG-13, Colonel Thiessen served in the Aviation Plans and Policy Branch of Headquarters Marine Corps until July 2000, when he was appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Force Programs. Colonel Thiessen was promoted to brigadier general and assumed the duties as the deputy director of operations, National Military Command Center in October 2001. He then served until May 2004 as the Deputy Naval Inspector General for Marine Corps Matters/Inspector General of the Marine Corps. Thiessen was then assigned as the Commanding General of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan, from 3 June 2004 to 10 June 2005, followed by a two-year tour as Commander, Marine Forces Korea and assistant Chief of Staff, U/C/J-5, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and the United States Forces Korea.

In June 2007, Major General Thiessen returned to the United States and assumed the duties of Assistant Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources (Programs) at Headquarters United States Marine Corps. Thiessen was nominated for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General on March 13, 2008, to become the Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced March 15, 2010 that LtGen Duane D. Thiessen has been nominated for reappointment to the rank of lieutenant general with assignment as commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific; commanding general, Fleet Marine Force Pacific; and commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific. [2]

Lieutenant General Thiessen is married to Lynn Rodd and they have two children. [3]

Awards

Naval Aviator Badge.jpg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg
Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg
Naval Aviator Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit w/ 2 award stars
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 service star National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 award stars Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 service stars Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMA-223</span> Military unit

Marine Attack Squadron 223 (VMA-223) is a United States Marine Corps fixed wing attack squadron that consists of McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II (V/STOL) jets. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron uses "Stone" as its radio callsign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Aircraft Group 14</span> United States Marine Corps aviation unit

Marine Aircraft Group 14 (MAG-14) is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina that is currently composed of two AV-8B Harrier squadrons, one F-35B squadron, one UAV training squadron, one KC-130 squadron, and an aviation logistics squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith B. McCutcheon</span> United States Marine Corps general

Keith Barr McCutcheon was a highly decorated Marine Corps four-star general and aviator seeing combat in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and ten Air Medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John K. Davis</span> United States Marine Corps general (1927–2019)

John Kerry Davis, also known as J.K. Davis, was a United States Marine Corps four-star general. Davis, a Vietnam War veteran and naval aviator, served as the Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (1977–1978) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1978-1978). His final assignment was as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1983, to June 1, 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter D. Williams</span> United States Marine Corps general

Major General Peter D. Williams is a retired United States Marine Corps general and an aviator. He served as the Inspector General of the United States Marine Corps in his last command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas R. Morgan</span> United States Marine Corps general

General Thomas Rowland Morgan served as Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from June 1986 until he retired on July 1, 1988, after completion of more than 36 years of active service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William L. Nyland</span> United States Marine Corps general

William L. "Spider" Nyland, a veteran of the Vietnam War, is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star General who served as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2005. He retired from the Marine Corps in November 2005 after over 37 years of distinguished service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard C. Mangrum</span> United States Marine Corps general (1906–1985)

Richard C. Mangrum was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1965 to 1967. Mangrum was a Marine Corps aviator who was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Robertshaw</span> American football player and United States Marine Corps general

Louis Bentham Robertshaw was an American football player and lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. He flew combat missions in World War II and the Korean War and flew an F4B Phantom II fighter in the Vietnam War as commanding general of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He received three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 12 Air Medals, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and three Legion of Merit with Combat "V."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas H. Miller</span> U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General Thomas H. Miller, was a United States Marine Corps Naval Aviator and test pilot. Miller saw active combat in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. As a test pilot, he set a World Speed Record in an F4H-1 (F4B) Phantom. He was the first American to fly the Marine Corps' new AV-8A Harrier jet, capable of vertical takeoff and landing, orchestrating its procurement for the Marine Corps and oversee development of the concept during his career. For this effort, Miller was known as "the father of STOVL aviation in the USMC."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gregg A. Sturdevant</span> United States Marine Corps general

Gregg A. Sturdevant is a retired United States Marine Corps Major General. At the time of his retirement, he was the Director of Strategic Planning and Policy (J5) for U.S. Pacific Command. From February 2012 to February 2013, he commanded the Third Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), which included U.S. Marine Corps aviation assets then located at Camp Leatherneck / Camp Bastion in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon M. Davis</span> United States Marine Corps general

Jon M. Davis is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. His last assignment in the Marine Corps was as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenna Dolan</span> Aviator

Jennifer Marie "Jenna" Dolan is a colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and former fighter pilot. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, she became the first woman to fly the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II aircraft in combat. The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, recognized Dolan's transition from the military to civilian workforce as an example for others to follow. Dolan plans to join a small group of civilian pilots that fly the Harrier at air shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph T. Anderson</span> US Marine Corps general officer and test pilot

Joseph T. "Joe" Anderson is a retired United States Marine Corps general officer, combat veteran, and test pilot. During his military service, he made notable contributions to the Marine Corps' use of the Harrier jump jet. After retirement, he provided senior leadership to multiple organizations including the National Air and Space Museum. In 2017, Anderson retired from air show flying.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard E. Carey</span> United States Marine Corps general

Richard Edward Carey is a retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh M. Elwood</span> U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General

Hugh McJunkin Elwood was a highly decorated flying ace in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. A veteran of three conflicts, he remained in the Marines and reached the rank of lieutenant general. Elwood completed his career as deputy chief of staff in 1973 after 40 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven R. Rudder</span> United States Marine Corps general

Steven R. Rudder is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and Naval Aviator. Rudder has served as Deputy Commandant for Aviation, USMC and Commanding General, United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell A. Sanborn</span> U.S. Marine major general.

Russell Sanborn is a retired U.S. Marine major general. Sanborn is a decorated pilot, veteran of the Gulf War and previously served as Commanding General of 1st Marine Air Wing and Commander, United States Marine Forces Europe and Africa. Sanborn was a prisoner of war during Operation Desert Storm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph K. Rottet</span> American Lieutenant general

Ralph Kaspar Rottet was a decorated officer and naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. A veteran of World War II, where he was distinguished as commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 31, he later rose to through the ranks and completed his career as Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs at Headquarters Marine Corps in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homer S. Hill</span> American Major general

Homer Spurgeon Hill was a decorated naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. A veteran of three wars, Hill began his career as a reservist and pilot of transport planes, participating in combats in Pacific theater.

References

  1. ↑ "Naval Aviation Museum Foundation" . Retrieved 2018-07-08.
  2. ↑ Defense.gov News Release: Flag Officer Announcement Archived April 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ CMHS: GRANDMA Overview Archived April 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps .

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.