Years of service 1955-1994 Rank Major general | Education University of Memphis Name Donald Gardner | |
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Commands held 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Marine Corps Bases, Japan
3rd Marine Division Awards Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Purple Heart Service/branch United States Marine Corps Other work Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Marine Corps University | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
Donald R. Gardner
Major General Donald R. Gardner is a retired United States Marine Corps officer and former president of the Marine Corps University.
Contents
- Donald R Gardner
- Education
- Marine Corps career
- Command assignments
- Staff assignments
- Awards and decorations
- Post Marine Corps career
- References
Education
Major General Gardner graduated from Memphis State University in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in History. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in History from Memphis State University. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College.
Marine Corps career
Gardner enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1955, reaching the rank of sergeant. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in Reserves in 1960 after earning his bachelor's degree.
Command assignments
Major General Gardner’s command assignments include: Platoon Commander, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines (1961); Company Commander, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion(1963); Company Commander, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (1966–67); Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines (1977); Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (1988); Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Commanding General, Marine Corps Bases, Japan (1992–94); Commanding General, 3rd Marine Division (Rein) (1993).
Staff assignments
Major General Gardner’s staff assignments include: Assistant S-3, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion (1963); Executive Officer, Marine Barracks, Bermuda, British West Indies (1963–66); S-4, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion (1966); Radio and Television Officer, Division of Information, HQMC, Washington, D.C. (1968); Aide-de-Camp to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (1970–71); Senior Advisor to Tran Hung Dao 30 (1971); Marine Officer Instructor at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (1973–76); Plans Officer, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C (1978–79); Deputy Director, 1st Marine Corps District, Garden City, New York (1982); Director of the 1st Marine Corps District (1984–86); Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, III Marine Amphibious Force, Okinawa, Laan (1986); Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (1987–88); Deputy Chief of Staff for Requirements and Programs (1990).
Awards and decorations
Major General Gardner’s military awards and personal decorations include:
Foreign Awards
Post Marine Corps career
Major General Gardner retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1994. From 1996 to 1999, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. From 1999 to 2004, he served as Chief Executive Officer for the Marine Corps University Foundation. On May 21, 2004, he was selected to fulfill the duties of President, Marine Corps University, becoming the first civilian to hold the post He retired from that position on June 25, 2009. The guest speaker at his retirement was GEN James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, who referred to him as "the last Confederate general still on active duty" due to his research on America's Civil War. Prior to assuming duties as President, MCU, Major General Gardner had served on the Commonwealth of Virginia's Veterans Services Foundation. He could not maintain a position as a member of the Veterans Services Foundation, due to federal regulations.