Commandant of the Marine Corps - Wikipedia Commandant of the Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps CMC Flag of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Incumbent General Robert Neller since 24 September 2015 Department of the Navy Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff Reports to Secretary of Defense Secretary of the Navy Seat The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. Appointer The President with Senate advice and consent Term length 4 years Renewable once ( In time of war or during a national emergency declared by Congress ) Constituting instrument 10 U.S.C. § 5043 Formation 28 November 1775, 12 July 1798 First holder Samuel Nicholas Deputy Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Website Official website The Commandant of the Marine Corps ( CMC ) is normally the highest - ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The CMC reports directly to the United States Secretary of the Navy and is responsible for ensuring the organization, policy, plans, and programs for the Marine Corps as well as advising the President, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of the Navy on matters involving the Marine Corps. Under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, the CMC designates Marine personnel and resources to the commanders of Unified Combatant Commands. The Commandant performs all other functions prescribed in Section 5043 in Title 10 of the United States Code or delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in his administration in his name. As with the other joint chiefs, the Commandant is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States Marine Corps forces. The Commandant is nominated by the President for a four - year term of office and must be confirmed by the Senate. By statute, the Commandant is appointed as a four - star general while serving in office. `` The Commandant is directly responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the total performance of the Marine Corps. This includes the administration, discipline, internal organization, training, requirements, efficiency, and readiness of the service. The Commandant is also responsible for the operation of the Marine Corps material support system. '' Since 1801, the official residence of the Commandant has been located in the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. and his main offices are in Arlington County, Virginia. Contents 1 Responsibilities 2 List of commandants 2.1 Timeline 3 See also 4 References 4.1 Notes 4.2 General 5 External links Responsibilities The responsibilities of the Commandant are outlined in Title 10, Section 5043, the United States Code and the position is `` subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Navy. '' As stated in the U.S. Code, the Commandant `` shall preside over the Headquarters, Marine Corps, transmit the plans and recommendations of the Headquarters, Marine Corps, to the Secretary and advise the Secretary with regard to such plans and recommendations, after approval of the plans or recommendations of the Headquarters, Marine Corps, by the Secretary, act as the agent of the Secretary in carrying them into effect, exercise supervision, consistent with the authority assigned to commanders of unified or specified combatant commands under chapter 6 of this title, over such of the members and organizations of the Marine Corps and the Navy as the Secretary determines, perform the duties prescribed for him by section 171 of this title and other provisions of law and perform such other military duties, not otherwise assigned by law, as are assigned to him by the President, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of the Navy. '' List of Commandants Thirty - seven men have served as the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The first Commandant was Samuel Nicholas, who took office as a captain, though there was no office titled `` Commandant '' at the time, and the Second Continental Congress had authorized that the senior-most Marine could take a rank up to Colonel. The longest - serving was Archibald Henderson, sometimes referred to as the `` Grand old man of the Marine Corps '' due to his thirty - nine - year tenure. In the history of the United States Marine Corps, only one Commandant has ever been fired from the job : Anthony Gale, as a result of a court - martial in 1820. # Picture Name Rank Start of tenure End of tenure Notes Nicholas Samuel Nicholas O - 04 Major 28 November 1775 27 August 1783 The first de facto Commandant for his role as the senior-most officer of the Continental Marines. Burrows William W. Burrows O - 05 Lieutenant colonel 12 July 1798 6 March 1804 The first de jure Commandant, he started many important organizations within the Marine Corps, including the United States Marine Band 3.0 3 Wharton Franklin Wharton O - 05 Lieutenant colonel 7 March 1804 1 September 1818 The first Commandant to be court - martialed ( acquitted ) and the first to occupy the Commandant 's House at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. 3.5 Henderson1 Archibald Henderson ( acting ) O - 05 Major September 16, 1818 2 March 1819 Acting Commandant, would later serve as Commandant from 1820 to 1859 -- Gale Anthony Gale O - 05 Lieutenant Colonel 3 March 1819 8 October 1820 The second Commandant to be court - martialed and the only Commandant to be fired. Burial location is unknown and no photos have ever been located. 5 Henderson2 Archibald Henderson O - 07 Brevet Brigadier General 17 October 1820 6 January 1859 The longest - serving Commandant ; known as the `` Grand old man of the Marine Corps '' ; known for his role in expanding the Marine Corps ' mission to include expeditionary warfare and rapid deployment 6 Harris John Harris O - 06 Colonel 7 January 1859 1 May 1864 Commandant during most of the American Civil War 7 Zeilin Jacob Zeilin O - 07 Brigadier General 10 June 1864 31 October 1876 Became the Marine Corps ' first general officer, officially approved of the design of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor as the emblem of the Marine Corps 8 McCawley Charles G. McCawley O - 06 Colonel 1 November 1876 29 January 1891 Chose `` Semper Fidelis '', Latin for `` Always Faithful '', as the official Marine Corps motto 9 Heywood Charles Heywood O - 08 Major General 30 June 1891 2 October 1903 Was the first Marine to hold the rank of Major General 10 Elliott George F. Elliott O - 08 Major General 3 October 1903 30 November 1910 Successfully resisted attempts to remove seagoing Marines from capital ships and to merge the Corps into the United States Army 11 Biddle William P. Biddle O - 08 Major General 3 February 1911 24 February 1914 Established the Advanced Base Force, forerunner of today 's Fleet Marine Force 12 Barnett George Barnett O - 08 Major General 25 February 1914 30 June 1920 Served as Commandant during World War I, which caused a huge increase in personnel during his term 13 Lejeune John A. Lejeune O - 08 Major General 1 July 1920 4 March 1929 Started the tradition of the birthday ball with Marine Corps Order 47, still read annually. Commanded a US Army division ( the 2nd Infantry Division ) in combat during World War I. 14 Neville Wendell C. Neville O - 08 Major General 5 March 1929 8 July 1930 Recipient of the Medal of Honor and Marine Corps Brevet Medal 15 Fuller Ben H. Fuller O - 08 Major General 9 July 1930 28 February 1934 Consolidated the Fleet Marine Force concept 16 Russell John H. Russell, Jr. O - 08 Major General 1 March 1934 30 November 1936 The system of seniority promotions of officers was changed to advancement by selection, the 1st Marine Brigade was withdrawn from Haiti, and the number of ships carrying Marine detachments continued to increase. 17 Holcomb Thomas Holcomb O - 09 Lieutenant General 1 December 1936 31 December 1943 Expanded the Corps almost 20 times in size for World War II and integrated women into the Corps. The first Marine to be advanced ( after retirement ) to the rank of General 18 Vandegrift Alexander Vandegrift O - 09 General 1 January 1944 31 December 1947 Recipient of the Medal of Honor. Was the first active duty Marine to hold the rank of General, resisted attempts to merge the Corps with the Army 19 Cates Clifton B. Cates O - 10 General 1 January 1948 31 December 1951 Recipient of the Navy Cross. Commandant during early stage of the Korean War. 20 Shepherd Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. O - 10 General 1 January 1952 31 December 1955 Recipient of the Navy Cross and last World War I veteran to be Commandant. First Commandant to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Commandant during the Korean War. 21 Pate Randolph M. Pate O - 10 General 1 January 1956 31 December 1959 Commandant between U.S. involvement in the Korean War and Vietnam War. 22 Shoup David M. Shoup O - 10 General 1 January 1960 31 December 1963 Recipient of the Medal of Honor. Opposed U.S. involvement in South Vietnam based on strategy and undue influence of corporations and military officials in foreign policy. Historians consider Shoup 's criticisms to be among the most pointed and high - profile leveled by a veteran against the Vietnam War. 23 Greene Wallace M. Greene, Jr. O - 10 General 1 January 1964 31 December 1967 Oversaw the expansion of the Corps role in the Vietnam War 24 Chapman Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. O - 10 General 1 January 1968 31 December 1971 Was the Commandant during the final years of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. During his period in command, the III Marine Amphibious Force withdrew from Vietnam and the strength of the Corps dropped from a peak of 289,000 to 198,000. 25 Cushman Robert E. Cushman, Jr. O - 10 General 1 January 1972 30 June 1975 Oversaw the withdrawal of the Marines from Vietnam and a decline in the Corps ' peacetime strength to 194,000 26 Wilson Louis H. Wilson, Jr. O - 10 General 1 July 1975 30 June 1979 Recipient of the Medal of Honor for capture of Guam 27 Barrow Robert H. Barrow O - 10 General 1 July 1979 30 June 1983 Last World War II veteran to be Commandant. Was the first Commandant to serve as a full member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acquired approval of production of the American - modified Harrier aircraft, and several other improvements to enhance the effectiveness of the Marine Corps 28 Kelley Paul X. Kelley O - 10 General 1 July 1983 30 June 1987 Commandant when the Marine Barracks bombing occurred in Beirut during the 1982 - 84 multinational force peacekeeping mission under the Reagan Administration. In 2007, General Kelley published in the Washington Post an opinion piece that had a negative opinion on the use of enhanced interrogation techniques 29 Gray Alfred M. Gray, Jr. O - 10 General 1 July 1987 30 June 1991 The Alfred M. Gray Research Center at Marine Corps Base Quantico houses the Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections, the Quantico Base Library, and the research library for the Marine Corps University. As a reminder that the primary role of every Marine is a rifleman, he had his official photograph taken in the Camouflage Utility Uniform, the only Commandant to have done so. 30 Mundy Carl E. Mundy, Jr. O - 10 General 1 July 1991 30 June 1995 After retirement, he served as president and CEO of the United Service Organizations ( USO ), and was the chairman of the Marine Corps University Foundation. 31 Krulak Charles C. Krulak O - 10 General 1 July 1995 30 June 1999 Was the son of Marine Corps Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak. Came up with the concept of the ' Strategic Corporal ' and the ' Three Block War '. Introduced The Crucible, a final test of Marine recruits. 32 Jones James L. Jones O - 10 General 1 July 1999 12 January 2003 Oversaw the Marine Corps ' development of MARPAT camouflage uniforms and the adoption of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program ; later became the first Marine officer to serve as Commander, U.S. European Command ( USEUCOM ) and NATO 's Supreme Allied Commander Europe ( SACEUR ), then as National Security Advisor for the Obama Administration. 33 Hagee Michael W. Hagee O - 10 General January 13, 2003 13 November 2006 Guided the Corps through the initial years of the Iraq War 34 Conway James T. Conway O - 10 General 13 November 2006 22 October 2010 Commanded Marines forces in the Iraq War and oversaw expansion of the Corps to 202,000 personnel. First Commandant in nearly 40 years to have not served in the Vietnam War. 35 Amos James F. Amos O - 10 General 22 October 2010 17 October 2014 First naval aviator to serve as Commandant. 36 Dunford Joseph Dunford O - 10 General 17 October 2014 24 September 2015 First Commandant and second Marine to be promoted to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 37 Neller Robert B. Neller O - 10 General 24 September 2015 Incumbent Timeline See also United States Marine Corps portal Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps References Notes ^ Jump up to : 10 U.S.C. § 151 Joint Chiefs of Staff : composition ; functions. Jump up ^ 10 U.S.C. § 165 Combatant commands : administration and support ^ Jump up to : 10 U.S.C. § 5043 Commandant of the Marine Corps Jump up ^ `` Appendix A : How the Marines Are Organized ''. Marine Corps Concepts and Programs 2006 ( PDF ). United States Marine Corps. p. 252. Retrieved 6 May 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Commandants of the U.S. Marine Corps ''. Historical Topics : Frequently Requested. Reference Branch, History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2007. Jump up ^ Journal of the Continental Congress ( 10 November 1775 ). `` Resolution Establishing the Continental Marines ''. United States Marine Corps History Division. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010. Jump up ^ Hoffman, Col Jon T. ( 2002 ). Marine Corps Association, ed. USMC : A Complete History. Beth L. Crumley ( illustration editor ), Charles J. Ziga ( design ), Col John Greenwood ( editor ), James O. Muschett ( editor ). Hugh Lauter Levin Associates. ISBN 0 - 88363 - 650 - 6. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Jump up ^ Krivdo, Michael E. ( 2009 ). `` Harpers Ferry : Last Action of `` Henderson Era '' ``. Fortitudine. Quantico, VA : United States Marine Corps Historical Program. 34 ( 4 ) : 7 -- 11. ISBN 0 - 16 - 010404 - 1. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010. Jump up ^ Shea, Sgt Jimmy D. ( 22 October 2010 ). `` Taking the Reins : Marine Corps Welcomes New Commandant ''. Headquarters Marine Corps. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010. General This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps. Allan Reed Millett and Jack Shulimson, eds. ( 2004 ). Commandants of the Marine Corps. Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87021 - 012 - 9. CS1 maint : Uses editors parameter ( link ) Ulbrich, David J. ( 2011 ). Preparing for Victory : Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Modern Marine Corps, 1936 - 183. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781591149033. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Commandants of the United States Marine Corps. Official website Leadership of the United States Marine Corps Commandants Nicholas Burrows Wharton Gale Henderson Harris Zeilin McCawley Heywood Elliott Biddle Barnett Lejeune Neville Fuller Russell Holcomb Vandegrift Cates Shepherd Pate Shoup Greene Chapman Cushman Wilson Barrow Kelley Gray Mundy Krulak Jones Hagee Conway Amos Dunford Neller Assistant Commandants Cole Lejeune Long Neville Feland Williams Fuller Myers Russell McDougal Little H. Smith Vandegrift Barrett Keyser Schmidt Rockey Peck Turnage Shepherd O. Smith Silverthorn Thomas Pate Megee McCaul Munn Hayes Mangrum Chapman Walt McCutcheon R. Davis Anderson Jaskilka Barrow McLennan Kelley J. Davis Morgan Went J.R. Dailey Boomer Hearney Neal Dake Williams Nyland Magnus Amos Dunford Paxton Walters Sergeants Major Bestwick Rauber McHugh Sweet J.W. Daily Puckett Black Massaro Crawford Cleary Sommers Overstreet Lee McMichael Estrada Kent Barrett Green Secretary of the Navy ( navbox ) Four - star generals Headquarters Marine Corps Category United States Marine Corps Leadership Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Marine Corps generals United States Congress House Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower Major commands Organization of the Marine Corps Headquarters Marine Corps Marine Forces Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific I Marine Expeditionary Force III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Reserve Fleet Marine Force Atlantic Pacific Marine Corps Combat Development Command Small Wars Center and Irregular Warfare Integration Division ( SWC / IWID ) Operations Analysis Directorate ( OAD ) Training & Education Command ( TECOM ) United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory Structure Marine Air - Ground Task Force Bases Battalions Regiments Brigades Divisions MEF / Corps Marine aviation Marine expeditionary unit Special Operations Marine Raiders Marine Raider Regiment Recon Force Division Personnel and training Personnel Personnel Rank insignia MOS Notable Marines Historical Marines Marine Astronauts Criminal Investigation Division Judge Advocate Division Chaplain of the Marine Corps Associated organizations Training Training Recruit Training School of Infantry Officer Candidates School The Basic School Martial Arts Program Uniforms and equipment Uniforms Awards Badges Weapons Vehicles and aircraft Individual equipment History and traditions History Culture Acronyms and terms Birthday Ball Eagle, Globe, and Anchor Flag Marine Band Drum and Bugle Corps Marine One Silent Drill Platoon White House Sentries Service Numbers Marine Corps War Memorial Marine Detachments Marines ' Hymn National Museum Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Rifleman 's Creed Semper Fidelis march History of Hispanics in the USMC History of women in the USMC Women 's Reserve Honorary Marine Toys for Tots Portal Category United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Dunford ( Chairman ) Selva ( Vice Chairman ) Milley ( Army ) Neller ( Marine Corps ) Richardson ( Navy ) Goldfein ( Air Force ) Lengyel ( National Guard ) Senior officials in the United States Department of Defense Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan Chief Management Officer John H. Gibson Secretaries of the Military Departments Secretary of the Army : Mark Esper Secretary of the Navy : Richard V. Spencer Secretary of the Air Force : Heather Wilson Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford, USMC Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment : Ellen Lord Research and Engineering : Michael D. Griffin Policy : John Rood Comptroller / Chief Financial Officer : David Norquist Personnel and Readiness : Vacant Intelligence : Joseph D. Kernan Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Paul J. Selva, USAF Chiefs of the Military Services Chief of Staff of the Army : GEN Mark A. Milley Commandant of the Marine Corps : Gen Robert Neller Chief of Naval Operations : ADM John M. Richardson Chief of Staff of the Air Force : Gen David L. Goldfein Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen Joseph L. Lengyel, USAF Unified Combatant Command Commanders Africa : Gen Thomas D. Waldhauser, USMC Central : GEN Joseph Votel, USA European : GEN Curtis Scaparrotti, USA Northern : Gen Lori Robinson, USAF Pacific : ADM Harry B. Harris Jr., USN Southern : ADM Kurt W. Tidd, USN Special Operations : GEN Raymond A. Thomas, USA Strategic : Gen John E. Hyten, USAF Transportation : Gen Darren W. McDew, USAF - Acting United States Armed Forces Book Portal MC AF CG Category MC AF CG Navbox MC AF CG Leadership Commander - in - chief : President of the United States Secretary of Defense Deputy Secretary of Defense Secretary of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Joint Chiefs of Staff : Chairman Vice Chairman United States Congress : Committees on Armed Services : Senate House Active duty four - star officers United States military seniority National Security Act of 1947 Goldwater -- Nichols Act Organization Service departments Department of Defense ( Secretary ) : Army ( Secretary ) Navy ( Secretary ) Air Force ( Secretary ) Department of Homeland Security ( Secretary ) : Coast Guard Branches Army ( Chief of Staff ) Marine Corps ( Commandant ) Navy ( Chief of Naval Operations ) Air Force ( Chief of Staff ) Coast Guard ( Commandant ) Reserve components Reserves : A MC N AF CG National Guard : A AF Civilian auxiliaries Military Auxiliary Radio System Merchant Marine Civil Air Patrol Coast Guard Auxiliary Unified Combatant Command Africa Central European Indo - Pacific Northern Southern Cyber Special Operations Strategic Transportation Structure United States Code Title 10 Title 14 Title 32 Title 50 The Pentagon Installations Units : A MC N AF CG Logistics Media Unit mottoes Operations and history Current deployments Conflicts Wars Timeline History : A MC N AF CG Colonial World War II Civil affairs Officers ' clubs African Americans Asian Americans Buddhist Americans Jewish Americans Muslim Americans Pakistani Americans Sikh Americans Historiography : Army Center of Military History MC History Division Naval History and Heritage Command Air Force Historical Research Agency American official war artists : Army Art Program AF Art Program Personnel Training MEPS ASVAB Recruit training : A MC N AF CG Officer candidate school : A MC N AF Warrant : A MC Service academies : A ( prep ) N ( prep ) AF ( prep ) CG Merchant Marine ROTC A : ECP MC / N AF Medical Other education Uniforms Uniforms : A MC N AF CG Awards & decorations : Inter-service A MC / N AF CG Foreign International Devices Badges : Identification A MC N AF CG Ranks Enlisted : A MC N AF CG Warrant officers Officer : A MC N AF CG Other Oath : Enlistment Office Creeds & Codes : Code of Conduct NCO A MC N AF CG Service numbers : A MC N AF CG Military Occupational Specialty / Rating / Air Force Specialty Code Pay Uniform Code of Military Justice Judge Advocate General 's Corps Military Health System / TRICARE Separation Veterans Affairs Conscription Chiefs of Chaplains : A MC N AF CG Equipment MC : vehicles weapons other AF CG Land Individual weapons Crew - served weapons Vehicles ( active ) Sea All watercraft Ships : A N ( active ) AF CG MSC Weapons : N CG Reactors Air Aircraft World War I active Aircraft designation Missiles Helicopter arms Other Nuclear football Electronics ( designations ) Flags : A MC N AF CG Ensign Jack Guidons Food WMDs : Nuclear Biological Chemical Legend A = Army MC = Marine Corps N = Navy AF = Air Force CG = Coast Guard Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commandant_of_the_Marine_Corps&oldid=865349727 '' Categories : Joint Chiefs of Staff United States Marine Corps Commandants United States Marine Corps leadership United States Marine Corps lists Hidden categories : Pages using Timeline CS1 : Julian -- Gregorian uncertainty Use dmy dates from August 2018 Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Marine Corps CS1 maint : Uses editors parameter Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Dansk Deutsch Español Français Bahasa Indonesia Bahasa Melayu 日本 語 Português Русский Slovenščina Suomi Svenska Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 7 more Edit links This page was last edited on 23 October 2018, at 11 : 25 ( UTC ). 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Question: where is the office of the commandant of the marine corps
Answer: Arlington County, Virginia