List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals

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four-star general

The rank of general (or full general, or four-star general) is the highest rank in the United States Marine Corps. It ranks above lieutenant general (three-star general).

Contents

There have been 75 four-star generals in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps. Of these, 57 achieved that rank while on active duty, 17 were promoted upon retirement in recognition of combat citations (1942–1959), and one was promoted posthumously. Generals entered the Marine Corps via several paths: 30 via Officer Candidates School (OCS), 25 via Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at a civilian university, 10 via the United States Naval Academy (USNA), seven via ROTC at a senior military college, and three via Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university.

List of generals

Entries in the following list of four-star 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. Each entry lists the general's name, date of rank, [1] active-duty positions held while serving at four-star rank, [2] number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank (Yrs), [3] year commissioned and source of commission, [4] number of years in commission when promoted to four-star rank (YC), [5] and other biographical notes. [6]

#NamePhotoDate of rank [1] PositionYrs [3] Commission [4] YC [5] Notes
1 Alexander A. Vandegrift AAVandegrift.jpg 21 Mar 1945 21909 (OCS)36(1887–1973) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1942.
* Roy S. Geiger Roy Geiger.jpg 23 Jan 1947 
  • (posthumous)
01909 (OCS)38(1885–1947) [7]
2 Clifton B. Cates Clifton B. Cates.jpg 1 Jan 1948 41917 (OCS)31(1893–1970) [8]
3 Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. Lemuel Cornick Shepherd mlajsi.jpg 1 Jan 1952 71917 (VMI)35(1896–1990) [9]
4 Randolph M. Pate GenRMPate USMC (cropped).jpg 1 Jan 1956 41921 (VMI)35(1898–1961)
5 David M. Shoup David Monroe Shoup (cropped).jpg 1 Jan 1960 41926 (ROTC)34(1904–1983) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1943.
6 Wallace M. Greene Jr. Wallace M. Greene.jpg 1 Jan 1964 41930 (USNA)34(1907–2003)
7 Leonard F. Chapman Jr. Leonard F. Chapman.jpg 1 Jan 1968 41935 (NROTC)33(1913–2000) U.S. Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, 1973–1977.
8 Lewis W. Walt Lewis William Walt.jpg 2 Jun 1969 21936 (ROTC)33(1913–1989)
9 Raymond G. Davis Raymond G. Davis.jpg 12 Mar 1971 11938 (ROTC)33(1915–2003) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1950.
10 Keith B. McCutcheon Keith B. McCutcheon.jpg 1 Jul 1971 01937 (ROTC)34(1915–1971) [10]
11 Robert E. Cushman Jr. Robert E. Cushman.jpg 1 Jan 1972 41935 (USNA)37(1914–1985) Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, 1969–1971.
12 Earl E. Anderson Earl Edward Anderson.jpg 31 Mar 1972 31940 (NROTC)32(1919–2015)
13 Louis H. Wilson Jr. GEN Wilson, Louis Hugh Jr..jpg 1 Jul 1975 41941 (OCS)34(1920–2005) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1944.
14 Samuel Jaskilka GEN Samuel Jaskilka.jpg 4 Mar 1976 31942 (OCS)34(1919–2012)
15 Robert H. Barrow Gen Robert H. Barrow.JPG 1 Jul 1978 51942 (OCS)36(1922–2008)
16 Kenneth McLennan GEN McLennan Kenneth USMC (cropped).jpg 2 Jul 1979 31945 (OCS)34(1925–2005)
17 Paul X. Kelley GEN Kelley, Paul X.jpg 1 Jul 1981 61950 (NROTC)31(1928–2019) Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission, 1991–1994, 2001–2005.
18 John K. Davis General John K. Davis.jpg 1 Jul 1983 31950 (NROTC)33(1927–2019)
19 George B. Crist General George Crist, official military photo, 1985.JPEG 22 Nov 1985 31952 (NROTC)33(1931–2024)
20 Thomas R. Morgan Morgan ThomasR.jpg 1 Jun 1986 21952 (NROTC)34(1930–    )
21 Alfred M. Gray Jr. Official Portrait of Retired Gen. Alfred M. Gray (2) (cropped).jpg 1 Jul 1987 41952 (OCS)35(1928–2024)
22 Joseph J. Went Joseph J. Went.jpg 1 Jul 1988 21952 (NROTC)36(1930–    )
23 John R. Dailey Dailey JR.jpg 1 Aug 1990 31956 (NROTC)34(1934–    ) Associate Deputy Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1992–1999; Director, National Air and Space Museum, 2000–2018.
24 Carl E. Mundy Jr. GEN Carl E. Mundy, Jr.JPG 1 Jul 1991 41957 (NROTC)34(1935–2014) President, United Service Organizations, 1996–2000.
25 Joseph P. Hoar Joseph Hoar official military photo.jpg 1 Sep 1991 31957 (NROTC)34(1934–2022)
26 Walter E. Boomer Walter E. Boomer.jpg 1 Sep 1992 21960 (NROTC)32(1938–    )
27 Richard D. Hearney Hearney RD.jpg 15 Jul 1994 21962 (OCS)32(1939–    )
28 John J. Sheehan Sheehan JohnJ USMC.jpg 31 Oct 1994 31962 (NROTC)32(1940–    )
29 Charles C. Krulak Charles C. Krulak.jpg 29 Jun 1995 41964 (USNA)31(1942–    ) President, Birmingham–Southern College, 2011–2015. Son of Marine Corps lieutenant general Victor H. Krulak.
30 Richard I. Neal Richard I Neal.jpg 19 Sep 1996 21965 (NROTC)31(1942–2022)
31 Anthony C. Zinni Anthony Zinni.jpg 8 Aug 1997 31965 (NROTC)32(1943–    ) U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, 2002–2003; U.S. Special Envoy to Qatar, 2017–2019.
32 Charles E. Wilhelm Charles E. Wilhelm.jpg 25 Sep 1997 31964 (NROTC)33(1941–    )
33 Terrence R. Dake Dake TR.jpg 5 Sep 1998 21966 (OCS)32(1944–    )
34 James L. Jones James L. Jones 2.jpg 30 Jun 1999 71967 (NROTC)32(1943–    ) National Security Advisor, 2009–2010.
35 Peter Pace Peter Pace official portrait.jpg 8 Sep 2000 71967 (USNA)33(1945–    ) Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2008.
36 Carlton W. Fulford Jr. Carlton W Fulford Jr.jpg 1 Oct 2000 21966 (USNA)34(1944–    )
37 Michael J. Williams Michael J. Williams.jpg 1 Nov 2000 21967 (USNA)33(1943–    )
38 William L. Nyland William L. Nyland.jpg 4 Sep 2002 31968 (NROTC)34(1946–    )
39 Michael W. Hagee Michael W. Hagee.jpg 14 Jan 2003 31968 (USNA)35(1944–    )
40 James E. Cartwright GEN Cartwright VJCS.jpg 1 Sep 2004 71971 (NROTC)33(1949–    )
41 Robert Magnus Robert Magnus.jpg 1 Nov 2005 31969 (NROTC)36(1947–    )
42 James T. Conway James T. Conway, official military photo portrait, 2006.jpg 13 Nov 2006 41970 (OCS)36(1947–    )
43 James N. Mattis Mattis Centcom 2009.jpg 9 Nov 2007 61972 (ROTC)35(1950–    ) U.S. Secretary of Defense, 2017–2019.
44 James F. Amos General James F. Amos.jpg 2 Jul 2008 61970 (NROTC)38(1946–    ) First naval aviator to become commandant.
45 Joseph F. Dunford Jr. Dunford CJCS.JPG 23 Oct 2010 91977 (OCS)33(1955–    )
46 John R. Allen General John R. Allen.jpg 18 Jul 2011 21976 (USNA)35(1953–    ) Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, 2014–2015; President, Brookings Institution, 2017–2022.
47 John F. Kelly John F. Kelly, 2012.jpg 19 Nov 2012 31976 (OCS)36(1950–    ) U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, 2017; White House Chief of Staff, 2017–2019.
48 John M. Paxton Jr. Paxton 2013 1.jpg 15 Dec 2012 41974 (OCS)38(1951–    )
49 Robert B. Neller Neller 2015 2.jpg 24 Sep 2015 41975 (OCS)40(1953–    )
50 Thomas D. Waldhauser WALDHAUSER AFRICOM 3.jpg 18 Jul 2016 31976 (OCS)40(1953–    )
51 Glenn M. Walters ACMC Walters.jpg 2 Aug 2016 21979 (Citadel)37(1957–    ) President, The Citadel, 2018–present.
52 Gary L. Thomas ACMC 2018 HiRes.jpg 4 Oct 2018 31984 (NROTC)34(1962–    )
53 Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr (USCENTCOM).jpg 28 Mar 2019 31979 (Citadel)40(1957–    )
54 David H. Berger Gen. David H. Berger.jpg 11 Jul 2019 41981 (NROTC)38(1959–    )
55 Eric M. Smith Gen Smith Official Photo V1.jpg 8 Oct 2021 31987 (Texas A&M)34(c. 1965–    )
56 Michael E. Langley Gen Michael E. Langley.jpg 6 Aug 2022 21985 (OCS)37(c. 1963–    ) First African-American to achieve the rank of general in the Marine Corps.
57 Christopher J. Mahoney Gen Christopher J. Mahoney (2).jpg 2 Nov 2023 11987 (NROTC)36

Tombstone generals

The Act of Congress of March 4, 1925, allowed officers in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to be promoted one grade upon retirement if they had been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. Combat citation promotions were colloquially known as "tombstone promotions" because they conferred all the perks and prestige of the higher rank including the loftier title on their tombstones but no additional retirement pay. The Act of Congress of February 23, 1942, enabled tombstone promotions to three- and four-star grades. Tombstone promotions were subsequently restricted to citations issued before January 1, 1947, and finally eliminated altogether effective November 1, 1959. The practice was terminated in an effort to encourage senior officer retirements prior to the effective date of the change to relieve an overstrength in the senior ranks.

Any general who actually served in a grade while on active duty receives precedence on the retirement list over any tombstone general holding the same retired grade. Tombstone generals rank among each other according to the dates of their highest active duty grade.

NamePhotoDate of rank (LGEN)Date retiredCommission [4] Notes
1 Thomas Holcomb Gen Thomas Holcomb.jpg 20 Jan 1942 Jan 1944 1900 (OCS)(1879–1965) U.S. Minister to South Africa, 1944–1948.
2 Holland M. Smith Holland Smith.jpg 28 Feb 1944 May 1946 1905 (OCS)(1882–1967)
3 Harry Schmidt Harry Schmidt.jpg 1 Mar 1946 Jul 1948 1909 (OCS)(1886–1968)
4 Allen H. Turnage Allen H. Turnage.jpg 4 Oct 1946 Jan 1948 1913 (OCS)(1891–1971)
5 LeRoy P. Hunt Leroy p. hunt.jpg 1 Jul 1949 Jul 1951 1917 (OCS)(1892–1968)
6 Franklin A. Hart Hart FA.jpg 22 Feb 1951 Aug 1952 1917 (OCS)(1894–1967)
7 Graves B. Erskine ErskineGB Gen USMC.jpg 2 Jul 1951 Jul 1953 1917 (OCS)(1897–1973) Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, 1953–1961.
8 Gerald C. Thomas Gerald C. Thomas.jpg 8 Mar 1952 Jan 1956 1917 (OCS)(1894–1984)
9 Oliver P. Smith Oliver P. Smith.jpg 23 Jul 1953 Sep 1955 1917 (OCS)(1893–1977)
10 William O. Brice Brice WO.jpg 28 Aug 1953 1956 1921 (Citadel)(1898–1972)
11 Christian F. Schilt Schilt CF USMC.jpg 1 Aug 1955 Apr 1957 1919 (OCS)(1895–1987) Awarded Medal of Honor, 1928.
12 Alfred H. Noble Noble AH.jpg 1 Aug 1955 Nov 1956 1917 (OCS)(1894–1983)
13 Vernon E. Megee Vernon Megee.jpg 1 Jan 1956 Nov 1959 1922 (OCS)(1900–1992)
14 Edwin A. Pollock Edwin A Pollock.jpg 1 Jan 1956 Nov 1959 1921 (Citadel)(1899–1982)
15 Merrill B. Twining Merrill B Twining.jpg 12 Sep 1956 Oct 1959 1923 (USNA)(1902–1996) Brother of Air Force four-star general Nathan F. Twining.
16 Ray A. Robinson Robinson RA.jpg 1 Nov 1956 Nov 1957 1917 (OCS)(1896–1976)
17 Robert E. Hogaboom Robert E. Hogaboom.jpg 1 Dec 1957 Oct 1959 1925 (USNA)(1902–1993)

History

Four-star positions

Structure of the United States Marine Corpsfederal government of the United Statescombined operationsUnified combatant commandUnified combatant commandUnified combatant commandJoint Chiefs of StaffIraq WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)Gulf WarVietnam WarKorean WarCold WarWorld War IIList of United States Marine Corps four-star generals

1945–present

By the Act of March 21, 1945, Congress permitted the President to appoint the Commandant of the Marine Corps to the grade of general. Alexander Vandegrift, then Commandant, was promoted from lieutenant general to general on April 4, 1945, to rank from March 21 of that year. He thus became the first Marine to serve in the grade of general. The Office of the Commandant was permanently fixed at the grade of four-star general under authority of the Act of August 7, 1947. All Commandants since that date have been entitled by law to serve in the grade of general and, in accordance with the provisions of 10 U.S.C.   § 5201, to retire in that grade.

In April 1969, the Senate passed and sent a bill to the White House that makes the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps a four-star general when the active duty strength of the Marine Corps exceeds 200,000. On May 5, 1969, President Richard Nixon signed the bill, and Lieutenant General Lewis William Walt was promoted to that rank on June 2, 1969, thus becoming the first Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps to attain four-star rank. Legislation allowing the Assistant Commandant to wear the four-star insignia regardless of the strength of the Marine Corps was approved by President Gerald Ford on March 4, 1976.

On November 22, 1985, General George B. Crist was promoted to four-star rank and on November 27, he assumed the position of Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. His appointment marked the first time a Marine headed a unified command and the first time the Corps had three four-star generals on active duty at the same time. Since 1985, a number of Marines have served in joint positions holding four-star rank, and it is no longer uncommon for the Corps to have four or five four-star generals on active duty at the same time.

In 2005, General Peter Pace became the first Marine to be appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief military advisor to the President of the United States and most senior appointment in the United States armed forces. Previously, in 2001, General Pace was the first Marine officer to be appointed as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VJCS).

The standard tour length for the commandant (CMC) is four years; two years for the assistant commandant (ACMC); for a combatant commander, three years; and a total of four years served in consecutive two-year terms for the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS/VJCS).

Christopher J. MahoneyMichael LangleyEric Smith (general)David H. BergerKenneth F. McKenzie Jr.Gary L. Thomas (general)Glenn M. WaltersThomas D. WaldhauserRobert NellerJohn M. Paxton, Jr.John F. Kelly (Marine)John R. AllenJoseph F. Dunford Jr.James F. AmosJames N. MattisJames T. ConwayRobert MagnusJames E. CartwrightMichael W. HageeWilliam L. NylandMichael J. WilliamsCarlton W. Fulford Jr.Peter PaceJames L. JonesTerrence R. DakeCharles E. WilhelmAnthony C. ZinniRichard I. NealCharles C. KrulakJohn J. SheehanRichard D. HearneyWalter E. BoomerJoseph P. HoarCarl E. Mundy Jr.John R. DaileyJoseph J. WentAlfred M. Gray, Jr.Thomas R. MorganGeorge B. CristJohn K. DavisPaul X. KelleyKenneth McLennanRobert H. BarrowSamuel JaskilkaLouis H. Wilson Jr.Earl E. AndersonRobert E. Cushman Jr.Raymond G. DavisKeith B. McCutcheonLewis W. WaltLeonard F. Chapman Jr.Wallace M. Greene Jr.David M. ShoupGerald C. ThomasRandolph M. PateLemuel C. Shepherd Jr.Clifton B. CatesAlexander A. VandegriftIraq WarWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)Gulf WarVietnam WarKorean WarCold WarWorld War IIList of United States Marine Corps four-star generals

Legislation

The following list of Congressional legislation includes major acts of Congress pertaining to appointments to the grade of general in the United States Marine Corps.

LegislationCitationSummary
Act of March 21, 1945 59  Stat.   36
  • Authorized one grade of general, appointed from officers serving now or hereafter as commandant of the Marine Corps, until six months after the end of World War II (Alexander A. Vandegrift) [made permanent in 1946 (60  Stat.   59)].
Act of August 7, 1947

[Officer Personnel Act of 1947]

 61  Stat.   874
 61  Stat.   880
  • Increased rank of commandant to general.
  • Authorized all Marine Corps officers to retire with the rank but not the pay of the next higher grade if specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat on or before December 31, 1946 [repealed in 1959 (73  Stat.   337)].
Act of May 2, 1969 83  Stat.   8
  • Authorized grade of general for assistant commandant of the Marine Corps if total active duty strength of Marine Corps exceeds 200,000 at time of appointment [strength requirement repealed in 1976 (90  Stat.   202)].
Act of December 12, 1980

[Defense Officer Personnel Management Act]

 94  Stat.   2844
 94  Stat.   2849
 94  Stat.   2876
  • Authorized president to designate positions of importance and responsibility to carry the grade of general, to be assigned from officers on active duty in any grade above colonel, subject to Senate confirmation, who revert to their permanent grade at the end of their assignment unless it was terminated by
    1. assignment to another position designated to carry the same grade,
    2. up to 180 days of hospitalization, or
    3. up to 90 days prior to retirement [reduced to 60 days in 1991 (105  Stat.   1354)].
  • Capped, except during war or national emergency, Marine Corps officers in grades above major general at 15 percent of all general officers on active duty.
  • Authorized three- and four-star officers to retire in the highest grade held on active duty, at the discretion of the president and subject to confirmation by the Senate, with no time-in-grade requirement [changed in 1996 to certification by secretary of defense and three-year time-in-grade requirement (110  Stat.   292)].
Act of October 28, 2009 123  Stat.   2273
 123  Stat.   2276
  • Capped Marine Corps officers in the grade of general at 2, exempting up to 20 generals assigned to joint duty [joint-duty cap repealed in 2016, effective December 31, 2022 (130  Stat.   2100), and lowered in 2021 to 19 (134  Stat.   3563)].

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 Dates of rank are taken, where available, from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps register of active and retired commissioned officers, or from the World Almanac and Book of Facts .
  2. ↑ Positions listed are those held by the officer when promoted to general. Dates listed are for the officer's full tenure, which may predate promotion to four-star rank or postdate retirement from active duty.
  3. 1 2 The number of years of active-duty service at four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Date of rank" column from the last year in the "Position" column.
  4. 1 2 3 Sources of commission are listed in parentheses after the year of commission and include: the Officer Candidates School (OCS); the United States Naval Academy (USNA); Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at a civilian university; Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) at a civilian university; and ROTC at a senior military college such as the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) or The Citadel (Citadel).
  5. 1 2 The number of years in commission before being promoted to four-star rank is approximated by subtracting the year in the "Commission" column from the year in the "Date of rank" column.
  6. ↑ Notes include years of birth and death; awards of the Medal of Honor, Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom, or honors of similar significance; major government appointments; university presidencies or equivalents; familial relationships with other four-star officers or significant government officials such as U.S. Presidents, cabinet secretaries, U.S. Senators, or state governors; and unusual career events such as premature relief or death in office.
  7. ↑ Posthumously promoted to general by Act of Congress, Jun 1947, with date of rank 23 Jan 1947.
  8. ↑ Reverted to lieutenant general, Jan 1952; retired as general, Jun 1954.
  9. ↑ Retired as general, Jan 1956; recalled as general, Mar 1956.
  10. ↑ Unable to assume post due to ill health; promoted and placed on retired list as general by Act of Congress, 1 Jul 1971; died 13 Jul 1971.

Bibliography

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