# List of 2nd Marine Division commanders

The 2d Marine Division is a Marine infantry division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It is the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF).
Together with 1st Marine Division, 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 Silent Second".
The 2d Marine Division participated in World War II, Operation in Panama, Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.
During its history, three commanding generals became the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Randolph M. Pate, Alfred M. Gray Jr. and James L. Jones) and another three commanding generals became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (Samuel Jaskilka, Kenneth McLennan and Richard I. Neal).

## Commanding generals

| # | Name | Rank | Start | End | Notability |
| 1 | VogelClayton B. Vogel | O-04 Major general | February 1, 1941 | December 7, 1941 | "Father" Navajo code talker program; commanding general of I Marine Amphibious Corps and also commanded Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island |
| 2 | PriceCharles F. B. Price | O-04 Major general | December 8, 1941 | March 23, 1942 | Commanded the Defense Forces, Samoan Group and Marine Corps Training and Replacement Command during World War II; Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Legion of Merit |
| 3 | FeganJoseph C. Fegan (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | March 24, 1942 | March 31, 1942 | Veteran of Banana Wars; First commanding general of Camp Pendleton; later commanded Department of the Pacific; father of Lieutenant general Joseph C. Fegan Jr. |
| 4 | MarstonJohn Marston | O-04 Major general | April 1, 1942 | April 30, 1943 | Veteran of Banana Wars; later commanded Department of the Pacific and Camp Lejeune |
| 5 | SmithJulian C. Smith | O-04 Major general | May 1, 1943 | April 10, 1944 | Veteran of Banana Wars and Battle of Tarawa; later commanded Department of the Pacific and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; Navy Cross and two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
| 6 | WatsonThomas E. Watson | O-04 Major general | April 11, 1944 | June 22, 1945 | Veteran of Banana Wars and Marianas Islands Campaign; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and served as director of personnel; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
| 7 | HuntLeRoy P. Hunt | O-04 Major general | June 23, 1945 | July 9, 1946 | Veteran of World War I, Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign or Battle of Okinawa; later commanded Department of the Pacific or Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic; Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, three awards of Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, two awards of Purple Heart |
| 8 | WilliamsGregon A. Williams (Acting) | O-04 Colonel | July 10, 1946 | July 20, 1946 | Veteran of Banana Wars, Battle of Okinawa and Korean War; later commanded Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and served as Inspector General Marine Corps; Navy Cross, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 9 | WatsonThomas E. Watson | O-04 Major general | July 21, 1946 | January 31, 1948 | Veteran of Banana Wars and Marianas Islands Campaign; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and served as director of personnel; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal |
| 10 | HartFranklin A. Hart | O-04 Major general | February 1, 1948 | June 30, 1950 | Veteran of Banana Wars, Dieppe Raid, Marianas Islands Campaign and Battle of Iwo Jima; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 11 | RobinsonRay A. Robinson | O-04 Major general | July 1, 1950 | December 6, 1951 | Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Recapture of Guam and Battle of Iwo Jima; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Camp Lejeune; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal |
| 12 | PollockEdwin A. Pollock | O-04 Major general | December 7, 1951 | September 2, 1952 | Veteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Cape Gloucester, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 13 | PateRandolph M. Pate | O-04 Major general | September 3, 1952 | May 29, 1953 | Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; The 21st Commandant of the Marine Corps, also commanded 1st Marine Division or Marine Corps Reserve; Army Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Purple Heart |
| 14 | HogaboomRobert E. Hogaboom (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | May 30, 1953 | June 23, 1953 | Veteran of Banana Wars, Marianas Islands Campaign, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; later served as Chief of Staff, HQMC; Three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal |
| 15 | GoodGeorge F. Good Jr. | O-04 Major general | June 24, 1953 | July 1, 1954 | Veteran of Banana Wars, Defense of Funafuti, Battle of Okinawa; later commanded Department of the Pacific or Camp Pendleton; Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 16 | PullerLewis B. Puller | O-04 Major general | July 2, 1954 | February 7, 1955 | The most decorated Marine in American history; veteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Peleliu and Korean War; commanded Troop Training Unit Pacific at Coronado, California; Five awards of Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", three awards of Air Medal, Purple Heart |
| 17 | SnedekerEdward W. Snedeker | O-04 Major general | February 8, 1955 | July 1, 1955 | Veteran of Banana Wars, Guadalcanal Campaign, Bougainville Campaign, Battle of Okinawa and Korean War; later commanded Marine Corps Schools, Quantico or 1st Marine Division; Navy Cross, Silver Star, three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" |
| 18 | RidgelyReginald H. Ridgely Jr. | O-04 Major general | July 2, 1955 | June 2, 1957 | Veteran of Banana Wars, Philippines Campaign (Prisoner of War); later commanded Camp Pendleton; Two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart |
| 19 | BurgerJoseph C. Burger | O-04 Major general | June 3, 1957 | October 24, 1959 | Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Guadalcanal Campaign and Korean War; commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island during Ribbon Creek incident; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal |
| 20 | ConoleyOdell M. Conoley (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | October 25, 1959 | November 5, 1959 | Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Guadalcanal Campaign and New Britain Campaign; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Army Commendation Medal |
| 21 | BerkeleyJames P. Berkeley | O-04 Major general | November 6, 1959 | November 3, 1961 | Veteran of Yangtze Patrol, Battle of Iwo Jima and Korean War; commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic or Camp Lejeune; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 22 | WiesemanFrederick L. Wieseman | O-04 Major general | November 4, 1961 | June 23, 1963 | Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Bougainville Campaign, Recapture of Guam and Korean War; later commanded Marine Corps Schools, Quantico; Two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 23 | TompkinsRathvon M. Tompkins | O-04 Brigadier general (Acting) | June 24, 1963 | September 26, 1963 | Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Saipan, Korean War or Battle of Khe Sanh; later commanded 3rd Marine Division or Camp Lejeune; Navy Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 24 | Van RyzinWilliam J. Van Ryzin | O-04 Major general | September 27, 1963 | April 11, 1965 | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; later served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 25 | SimpsonOrmond R. Simpson | O-04 Major general | April 12, 1965 | November 21, 1967 | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; later served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps; two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, four awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Navy Commendation Medal |
| 26 | WheelerEdwin B. Wheeler | O-04 Major general | November 22, 1967 | May 18, 1969 | Marine Raider, veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded 1st Marine Division; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit |
| 27 | RyanMichael P. Ryan | O-04 Major general | May 19, 1969 | June 4, 1971 | Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign, Battle of Tarawa and Vietnam War; Also served as director of Marine Corps Reserve; Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 28 | BohnRobert D. Bohn | O-04 Major general | June 5, 1971 | September 28, 1971 | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded Camp Lejeune; two awards of Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Purple Hearts |
| 29 | HaynesFred E. Haynes Jr. | O-04 Major general | September 29, 1971 | January 9, 1973 | Veteran of Battle of Iwo Jima, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded Camp Lejeune; four awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 30 | PoillonArthur J. Poillon (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | January 10, 1973 | July 1, 1973 | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later commanded Camp Lejeune; two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal |
| 31 | JaskilkaSamuel Jaskilka | O-04 Major general | July 2, 1973 | December 19, 1973 | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Retired as General and later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", two awards of Joint Service Commendation Medal |
| 32 | LanaganWilliam H. Lanagan Jr. (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | December 20, 1973 | May 15, 1974 | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as assistant commander of 2nd Division; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 33 | JoslynWilliam G. Joslyn | O-04 Major general | May 16, 1974 | June 30, 1976 | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Also commanded Marine Corps Base 29 Palms; three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and Purple Heart |
| 34 | McLennanKenneth McLennan | O-04 Major general | July 1, 1976 | May 17, 1978 | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 35 | BronarsEdward J. Bronars | O-04 Major general | May 18, 1978 | June 27, 1979 | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as deputy chief of staff for manpower; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Air Medal |
| 36 | TwomeyDavid M. Twomey | O-04 Major general | June 28, 1979 | June 4, 1981 | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; later served as deputy chief of staff for manpower; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and two awards of Air Medal |
| 37 | GrayAlfred M. Gray Jr. | O-04 Major general | June 5, 1981 | August 28, 1984 | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Retired as General and later served as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1987–91; two awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", four awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and three awards of Purple Heart |
| 38 | MurphyDennis J. Murphy | O-04 Major general | August 29, 1984 | October 29, 1987 | Veteran of Vietnam War; previously served as deputy commander, Fleet Marine Force Pacific; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 39 | SteeleOrlo K. Steele | O-04 Major general | October 30, 1987 | September 26, 1989 | Veteran of Vietnam War; later served as Inspector of the Marine Corps; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 40 | KeysWilliam M. Keys | O-04 Major general | September 27, 1989 | June 24, 1991 | Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as director, Personnel Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department at Headquarters Marine Corps; Navy Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 41 | Van RiperPaul Van Riper | O-04 Major general | June 25, 1991 | April 3, 1993 | Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Quantico; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart |
| 42 | NealRichard I. Neal | O-04 Major general | April 4, 1993 | July 28, 1994 | Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Retired as General and later served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1996 to 1998; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Silver Star, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", Purple Heart |
| 43 | JonesJames L. Jones | O-04 Major general | July 29, 1994 | June 23, 1995 | Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Retired as General and later served as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1999 to 2003; four awards of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, five awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 44 | LivingstonLawrence H. Livingston | O-04 Major general | June 24, 1995 | July 24, 1997 | Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; Previously served as commanding general of Camp Lejeune; Navy Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, two awards of Legion of Merit, four awards of Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", five awards of Purple Heart |
| 45 | BedardEmil R. Bedard | O-04 Major general | July 25, 1997 | June 29, 1999 | Veteran of Vietnam War and Gulf War; later served as deputy commandant for plans, policies, and operations at Headquarters Marine Corps; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 46 | BlackmanRobert R. Blackman Jr. | O-04 Major general | June 30, 1999 | July 30, 2001 | Veteran of Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War; later served as III Marine Expeditionary Force; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit |
| 47 | SattlerJohn F. Sattler | O-04 Major general | July 31, 2001 | June 30, 2003 | Veteran of Vietnam War and Iraq War; later served as director for strategic plans and policy, Joint Staff; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit |
| 48 | JohnsonStephen T. Johnson | O-04 Major general | July 1, 2003 | November 9, 2004 | Veteran of Iraq War; later served as commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit |
| 49 | HuckRichard A. Huck | O-04 Major general | November 10, 2004 | June 16, 2006 | Veteran of Iraq War; later served as commander of II Marine Expeditionary Force; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit |
| 50 | GaskinWalter E. Gaskin | O-04 Major general | June 16, 2006 | June 20, 2008 | Veteran of Kosovo mission; Also served as deputy chairman, NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 51 | TryonRichard T. Tryon | O-04 Major general | June 20, 2008 | July 30, 2010 | Veteran of Gulf War and Kosovo mission; later served as deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit |
| 52 | ToolanJohn A. Toolan | O-04 Major general | August 1, 2010 | March 1, 2012 | Veteran of Gulf War and War in Afghanistan; later served as deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit |
| 53 | LukemanJames W. Lukeman | O-04 Major general | March 2, 2012 | August 7, 2014 | Veteran of Iraq War; later served as commanding general, Training and Education Command; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit |
| 54 | BeaudreaultBrian Beaudreault | O-04 Major general | August 8, 2014 | June 16, 2016 | Veteran of Iraq War; later served as deputy commandant plans, policies, and operations; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal |
| 55 | LoveJohn K. Love | O-04 Major general | June 17, 2016 | August 1, 2018 | Veteran of Iraq War; Previously served as the Chief of Staff, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO in Naples, Italy; two awards of Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal |
| 56 | FurnessDavid J. Furness | O-04 Major general | August 2, 2018 | August 5, 2020 | Veteran of Iraq War; Previously served as the Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit, two awards of Bronze Star Medal |
| 57 | FurnessFrancis L. Donovan | O-04 Major general | August 6, 2020 | August 19, 2022 | Previously Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command |
| 58 | WorthCalvert L. Worth Jr. | O-04 Major general | August 19, 2022 | June 14, 2024 | |
| 59 | OdomDavid L. Odom | O-04 Major general | June 14, 2024 | Incumbent | |