Robert R. Blackman

Lieutenant General Blackman was commissioned into the Marine Corps from Cornell University in 1970. Key assignments over 37 years of active service include command of 3d Battalion, 8th Marines; G-3 Operations Officer for MARCENT (Forward) during Desert Shield and Desert Storm; Executive Officer to the Commander, U.S. Central Command; Commander, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy; President of the Marine Corps University; Commanding General, 2d Marine Division; Director, Resources and Assessment, U.S. Central Command; Chief of Staff of the Coalition Forces Land Component Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force: and Commander, Marine Corps Forces Command.

After leaving active service, Gen. Blackman served with the Marine Corps’ Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Program and Joint Warfighting Center advising and mentoring operational commanders and staffs. He joined the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation as President and CEO in March 2011.