Founded in 1941, with individual units dating back before then, it is the oldest and largest active duty division in the United States Marine Corps, representing a combat-ready force of more than 19,000 men and women. It is one of three active duty divisions in the Marine Corps today and is a multi-role, expeditionary ground combat force. It is nicknamed "The Old Breed".
| Picture | Name | Rank | Start | End | Notability | Ref |
|---|
| 1 | | SmithHolland Smith | O-04 Major general | | | "Father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare; Navy Distinguished Service Medal with four inch gold stars; commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and also served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps | [1] |
| 2 | | TorreyPhilip H. Torrey | O-04 Major general | | | Director of Marine Corps Reserve and later Commanding general of the Marine Corps Base Quantico during World War II | [2] |
| 3 | | VandergriftAlexander Vandegrift | O-04 Major general | | | Commander of I Marine Amphibious Corps and later served as 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, first U.S. Marine to hold the rank of four-star general while on active duty. ; Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal | [3] |
| 4 | | RupertusWilliam H. Rupertus | O-04 Major general | | | Commander of 4th Marine Regiment and he is the author of the Rifleman's Creed. ; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 5 | | del VallePedro del Valle | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Guadalcanal and Okinawa Campaigns. Del Valle became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of Lieutenant general. ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merit and Navy and Marine Corps Medal | |
| 6 | | PeckDewitt Peck | O-04 Major general | | | Served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commanding officer of 4th Marine Regiment in Shanghai, China; Legion of Merit with Gold star | |
| 7 | | RockeyKeller E. Rockey | O-04 Major general | | | Served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, 5th Marine Division, III Amphibious Corps ; Navy Cross with Gold star, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 8 | | HowardSamuel L. Howard | O-04 Major general | | | Captured by the Japanese at Corregidor and held as a POW until 1945. Later served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps ; Navy Cross | |
| 9 | | LasswellAlva B. Lasswell (Acting) | O-04 Colonel | | | Served with the Naval Communications during World War II ; Legion of Merit | |
| 10 | | ErskineGraves B. Erskine | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of the Pacific War, commanded 3rd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Pendleton ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit (2) with Combat "V" | |
| 11 | | SmithOliver P. Smith | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Battles at Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Cape Gloucester and Okinawa and Korean War. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commander of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Pendleton ; Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 12 | | PullerChesty Puller (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War, commander of the 1st Marine Regiment and 2nd Marine Division ; Five awards of Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross | |
| 13 | | SmithOliver P. Smith | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Battles at Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Cape Gloucester and Okinawa and Korean War. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, commander of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Pendleton ; Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 14 | | ThomasGerald C. Thomas | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War I, World War II and Korean War. Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 15 | | SeldenJohn T. Selden | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War I, World War II and Korean War, commanding general of Camp Pendleton; Army Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit | |
| 16 | | PollockEdwin A. Pollock | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War. Commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic ; Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 17 | | PateRandolph M. Pate | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War. Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959. ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 18 | | PepperRobert H. Pepper | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War I, World War II and Korean War. Commanded 3rd Marine Division and Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 19 | | HogaboomRobert E. Hogaboom | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of the Pacific War and Korean War. Assistant Division Commander of the 2nd Marine Division ; Three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 20 | | TwiningMerrill B. Twining | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Korean War. Commanded 3rd Marine Division ; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 21 | | BareRobert O. Bare | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Korean War ; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 22 | | ShoupDavid M. Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Korean War, Commandant of the Marine Corps ; Medal of Honor, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 23 | | TschirgiHarvey C. Tschirgi (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of World War II and Korean War, chief of staff of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island ; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 24 | | ShoupEdward W. Snedeker | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Korean War; commanded 7th Marine Regiment during Okinawa Campaign ; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V"; Later served as Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico in 1959–1963. | [4] [5] |
| 25 | | ShoupThomas F. Riley (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of World War II and Korean War, VMI alumni; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal; Later served as Orange County Supervisor 1974-1994. | [6] |
| 26 | | ShoupHenry R. Paige | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Korean War; two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal | [7] [8] |
| 27 | | ShoupFrederick E. Leek | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of World War II; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Distinguished Flying Cross | |
| 28 | | ShoupJames M. Masters, Sr. | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of the Pacific War; United States Naval Academy alumnus; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal | |
| 29 | | ShoupHerman Nickerson Jr. | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Distinguished Service Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal | |
| 30 | | ShoupWilliam T. Fairbourn | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", later Nuclear arms race activist | [9] |
| 31 | | ShoupEdward H. Hurst (acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of Battle of Okinawa and Battle of Peleliu; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | [10] |
| 32 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 33 | | ShoupHerman Nickerson Jr. | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Distinguished Service Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal | [11] |
| 34 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 35 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Battles at Roi Namur, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Korean War and Vietnam War; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, six awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | [12] |
| 36 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal | [13] |
| 37 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Marine Raider, veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", | [14] |
| 38 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Battle of Guam, Battle of Eniwetok and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", | [15] |
| 39 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", | [16] |
| 40 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", | |
| 41 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, two awards of Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", | |
| 42 | | Shoup | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 43 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Purple Heart | [17] |
| 44 | | Shoup | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II | |
| 45 | | ShoupMarc A. Moore (acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit | |
| 46 | | ShoupCharles G. Cooper | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; United States Naval Academy alumni; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit | |
| 47 | | ShoupFrancis X. Quinn | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Purple Heart | |
| 48 | | ShoupJames L. Day | O-04 Major general | | | Medal of Honor recipient; veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", six awards of Purple Heart | |
| 49 | | ShoupErnest C. Cheatham Jr. | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 50 | | ShoupClyde D. Dean | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 51 | | ShoupMatthew T. Cooper | O-04 Brigadier general | | | | |
| 52 | | ShoupJames J. McMonagle | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 53 | | ShoupJohn P. Monahan | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War; United States Naval Academy alumni; Defense Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 54 | | ShoupJames M. Myatt | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War; Silver Star | |
| 55 | | ShoupCharles E. Wilhelm | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Somali Civil War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 56 | | ShoupJerry C. McAbee (acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Veteran of Gulf War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, four awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" | |
| 57 | | ShoupCharles E. Wilhelm | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Somali Civil War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 58 | | ShoupFrank Libutti | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War and Somali Civil War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit and three awards of Purple Heart | |
| 59 | | ShoupJohn H. Admire | O-04 Major general | | | Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit | |
| 60 | | ShoupMichael Hagee | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War; three awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 61 | | ShoupGregory S. Newbold | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Gulf War; two awards of Legion of Merit; Openly critical of Donald Rumsfeld's plans for the invasion of Iraq | |
| 62 | | ShoupJames T. Conway | O-04 Major general | | | Served as the 34th Commandant of the Marine Corps; veteran of Gulf War and Iraq War; three awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit | |
| 63 | | ShoupJames Mattis | O-04 Major general | | | the 26th United States Secretary of Defense; veteran of Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 64 | | ShoupRichard F. Natonski | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit | |
| 65 | | ShoupJohn M. Paxton Jr. | O-04 Major general | | | the 33rd Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal | |
| 66 | | ShoupRichard P. Mills | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Later commanded Marine Corps Reserve; veteran of Iraq War; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal | |
| 67 | | ShoupThomas D. Waldhauser | O-04 Major general | | | Later commanded the United States Africa Command; veteran of Gulf War and Iraq War; two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal | |
| 68 | | ShoupRichard P. Mills | O-04 Major general | | | Later commanded Marine Corps Reserve; veteran of Iraq War; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal | |
| 69 | | ShoupMichael R. Regner | O-04 Major general | | | Later served as staff director for Headquarters Marine Corps; veteran of Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal | |
| 70 | | ShoupRonald L. Bailey | O-04 Major general | | | Later served as deputy commandant plans, policies, and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit | |
| 71 | | ShoupLawrence D. Nicholson | O-04 Major general | | | Later commanded III Marine Expeditionary Force; veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and Purple Heart | |
| 72 | | ShoupDaniel D. Yoo | O-04 Brigadier general | | | Later commanded Special Operations Command Pacific; veteran of War in Afghanistan; Legion of Merit and two awards of Bronze Star Medal | |
| 73 | | ShoupDaniel J. O'Donohue | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 74 | | ShoupEric M. Smith | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and Purple Heart | |
| 75 | | ShoupRobert F. Castellvi | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of War in Afghanistan; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
| 76 | | TurnerRoger B. Turner Jr. | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; Defense Superior Service Medal with “C,” two awards of Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device | |
| 77 | | WatsonBenjamin T. Watson | O-04 Major general | | | Veteran of Iraq War and War in Afghanistan; Defense Superior Service Medal with “C,” Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | | 78 | | FulfordRobert C. Fulford | O-04 Major general | | Incumbent | Veteran of Iraq War; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | |
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