Ronald L. Green

Ronald L. Green
Green in February 2015
Born	c. 1964 (age 60–61) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1983–2019
Rank	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Battles / wars	Somali Civil War Iraq War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (3)

Ronald L. Green (born c. 1964) is a United States Marine who served as the 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. He succeeded Micheal Barrett on February 20, 2015, and relinquished the post to Troy E. Black on July 26, 2019. As the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Green was the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. Green retired during the summer of 2019. ^[1] As of July2025, Green served as the sergeant major of the Marine Corps with the longest tenure, at 4 years and 156 days. ^[2] Henry H. Black is the shortest-tenured, at 1 year and 304 days. ^[3]

Early life and education

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Green enlisted and began recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, on 27 November 1983. ^[4] Green holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy from the University of Maryland University College. ^[5]

Military career

Green has been meritoriously promoted to the ranks of private first class, lance corporal, corporal, sergeant, and staff sergeant.

Throughout his career, Green has been assigned numerous duties, including field artillery cannoneer; field artillery nuclear projectileman; tower operator; drill instructor, senior drill instructor and drill master; battery section chief and battery gunnery sergeant, Assistant Marine Officer Instructor at Southern University and A&M College; first sergeant of Inspector-Instructor Staff, B Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment; and sergeant major of Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall, United States Marine Corps Forces, Europe/Marine Corps Forces Africa and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. ^[6]

Green has deployed to Somalia with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during Operation Restore Hope in 1993; to South America in support of Operation United Americas (UNITAS) in 2002; and with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 in support of the Iraq War's Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. ^[6]

Green co-authored the NATO non-commissioned officer’s professional military education reference curriculum. ^[7]

Personal life

Green serves on the board of directors for T.A.P.S. ^[1] and is a senior manager in the cybersecurity department at Southwest Airlines. ^[8]

Awards and decorations

1st row	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
2nd row	Legion of Merit with 2 gold award stars		Meritorious Service Medal		Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 4 award stars		Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 2 award stars
3rd row	Navy Unit Commendation w/ 1 bronze service star		Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 4 service stars		Navy E Ribbon w/ 1 Battle "E" device		Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/ 10 service stars
4th row	National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal		Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 campaign star		Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
5th row	Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal		Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 5 service stars		Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon		United Nations Medal
Badges	Rifle expert marksmanship badge (several awards)				Pistol expert marksmanship badge

• Green has earned 8 service stripes.

Further reading

• Seck, Hope Hodge (January 29, 2015). "The next SMMC: Sgt. Maj. Ronald Green's rise to the top". Marine Times. Retrieved 2018-02-05.

References

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

1. "Ron Green". www.taps.org. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
2. "Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Archived from the original on 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
3. "Sergeant Major Henry H. Black, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. Marine Corps Historical Division. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
4. Jennewein, Chris (January 20, 2015). "Pendleton Marine Is Historic 18th Sergeant Major of Corps". Times of San Diego. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
5. "Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green". Marine Corps University . Retrieved August 2, 2019.
6. Lamothe, Dan (January 21, 2015). "The new top enlisted Marine gave up a college band scholarship to join the military". Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
7. "#VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Ronald L. Green - VA News". 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
8. "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald L. Green, USMC (Ret.) - 2022 Distinguished Sea Service Awardee - Senior Enlisted". Naval Order. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2024-01-29.

External links

• "Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". Official Biography. United States Marine Corps.

Military offices
Preceded by Micheal P. Barrett	Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps 2015–2019	Succeeded by Troy E. Black