40 Facts About Joseph Dunford

1.

Joseph Dunford was the thirty-sixth commandant of the Marine Corps.

2.

Joseph Dunford has commanded several units, including the 5th Marine Regiment during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

3.

Joseph Dunford was born in Boston on December 23,1955, and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts.

4.

Joseph Dunford's father served as an enlisted Marine in the Korean War.

5.

Joseph Dunford is an Irish Catholic and Red Sox fan.

6.

Joseph Dunford graduated from Boston College High School in 1973, and from Saint Michael's College in June 1977.

7.

Joseph Dunford earned his commission the month of his college graduation.

8.

Joseph Dunford is a graduate of the United States Army War College, Ranger School, United States Army Airborne School, and the Amphibious Warfare School.

9.

Joseph Dunford holds a master of arts degree in government from Georgetown University and a second master of arts degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

10.

In 1978, Joseph Dunford served in the 1st Marine Division as a platoon and company commander in 3rd Battalion 1st Marines and a company commander in 1st Battalion 9th Marines until 1981.

11.

Joseph Dunford served as the aide to the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, Stephen G Olmstead, for a year, then transferred to the Officer Assignment Branch at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, DC Joseph Dunford reported to the 2nd Marine Division in June 1985 and commanded L Company of 3rd Battalion 6th Marines.

12.

From 1988 to 1991, Joseph Dunford was assigned as the Marine Officer Instructor at the College of the Holy Cross and Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

13.

In 1999, Dunford was the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as Chief, Global and Multilateral Affairs Division until 2001.

14.

Joseph Dunford next served in the 1st Marine Division where he was assigned to command the 5th Marine Regiment, then as the division's chief of staff and assistant commander.

15.

From 2005 to 2007, Joseph Dunford returned to Headquarters Marine Corps to serve as the Director of the Operations Division of the Plans, Policies and Operations staff, and eventually became the Vice Director for Operations at the Joint Staff in 2008.

16.

In December 2007, Joseph Dunford was nominated for promotion to the rank of major general.

17.

On May 1,2009, the Pentagon announced that President Barack Obama had appointed Joseph Dunford to serve as the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Central Command.

18.

Less than a year into that assignment, Dunford was nominated by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to succeed James F Amos as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, who had been nominated to succeed James Conway as Commandant.

19.

President Obama approved his promotion and Joseph Dunford assumed the duties and new rank on October 23,2010.

20.

On October 10,2012, Joseph Dunford was nominated by President Obama to lead US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

21.

Joseph Dunford assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force and US Forces Afghanistan from General John Allen on February 10,2013.

22.

On June 5,2014, Joseph Dunford was nominated by President Obama to be the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps.

23.

Joseph Dunford's nomination was confirmed by the Senate on July 23,2014, and he became Commandant on October 17,2014.

24.

On January 23,2015, Joseph Dunford released the 36th Commandant's Planning Guidance.

25.

On December 3,2015, Joseph Dunford was overruled by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter who announced that beginning in January 2016, all military occupations and positions will be open to women, without exception.

26.

President Barack Obama nominated Joseph Dunford to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on May 5,2015.

27.

Joseph Dunford was confirmed by the US Senate, and took over from Army General Martin Dempsey on September 25,2015, and officially took office on October 1,2015.

28.

Joseph Dunford serves with General Paul Selva, USAF, former Commander of US Transportation Command, who is the current Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

29.

Joseph Dunford is the only Marine to have served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

30.

Joseph Dunford was nominated for a second term as chairman by President Donald Trump on May 16,2017.

31.

Joseph Dunford's renomination was approved by the Senate on September 27,2017.

32.

Joseph Dunford has urged that Google should work directly with the US government instead of making controversial inroads into China.

33.

On September 8,2016, Joseph Dunford received the Heroes Award from nonprofit organization Tuesday's Children at their annual Roots of Resilience Gala.

34.

Joseph Dunford accepted it on behalf of the men and women of the Armed Forces.

35.

On July 23,2018, Dunford received the coveted "Dwight D Eisenhower" award during a ceremony from the VFW.

36.

On December 7,2018, Dunford received the Andrew J Goodpaster award from the George C Marshall Foundation.

37.

Joseph Dunford was awarded the title of Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia in the Military Division in 2018.

38.

Joseph Dunford received Canada's Meritorious Service Cross in the Military Division that same year, and accepted the award at the Halifax International Security Forum.

39.

Joseph Dunford is on the board of a New York private equity firm, following a path taken by other prominent retired 4-star officers, such as David Petraeus and Ray Odierno.

40.

Joseph Dunford is a member of the Board of Directors of Georgetown University.