# List of 1st Marine Division commanders

The 1st Marine Division is a Marine infantry division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF).
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".
The 1st Division saw combat service during almost all major conflicts during the 20th century. It participated in World War I (only 5th and 11th Marine Regiments of the future Division served in France), World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Somali Civil War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.

## Commanding generals

| # | Name | Rank | Start | End | Notability |
| 1 | SmithHolland Smith | O-04 Major general | February 1, 1941 | June 13, 1941 | "Father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare; Navy Distinguished Service Medal with four 5⁄16 inch gold stars; commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and also served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps |
| 2 | TorreyPhilip H. Torrey | O-04 Major general | June 14, 1941 | March 22, 1942 | Director of Marine Corps Reserve and later Commanding general of the Marine Corps Base Quantico during World War II |
| 3 | VandergriftAlexander Vandegrift | O-04 Major general | March 23, 1942 | July 7, 1943 | 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 |
| 4 | RupertusWilliam H. Rupertus | O-04 Major general | July 8, 1943 | November 1, 1944 | 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 | November 2, 1944 | August 8, 1945 | 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 | August 9, 1945 | June 9, 1946 | 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 | June 10, 1946 | September 17, 1946 | 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 | September 18, 1946 | June 17, 1947 | 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 | June 18, 1947 | July 6, 1947 | Served with the Naval Communications during World War II; Legion of Merit |
| 10 | ErskineGraves B. Erskine | O-04 Major general | July 7, 1947 | July 25, 1950 | 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 | July 26, 1950 | February 23, 1951 | 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 | February 24, 1951 | March 4, 1951 | 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 | March 5, 1951 | April 26, 1951 | 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 | April 27, 1951 | January 10, 1952 | 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 | January 11, 1952 | August 28, 1952 | 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 | August 29, 1952 | June 15, 1953 | 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 | June 16, 1953 | May 11, 1954 | 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 | May 12, 1954 | July 23, 1954 | 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 | July 24, 1954 | January 18, 1955 | 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 | January 19, 1955 | August 17, 1956 | 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 | August 18, 1956 | June 30, 1957 | 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 | July 1, 1957 | January 2, 1958 | 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 | January 3, 1958 | February 4, 1958 | 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 | February 5, 1958 | October 7, 1959 | 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. |
| 25 | ShoupThomas F. Riley (Acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | October 8, 1959 | November 13, 1959 | 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. |
| 26 | ShoupHenry R. Paige | O-04 Major general | November 14, 1959 | June 6, 1961 | Veteran of World War II and Korean War; two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Army Commendation Medal |
| 27 | ShoupFrederick E. Leek | O-04 Brigadier general | June 7, 1961 | July 30, 1961 | Veteran of World War II; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Distinguished Flying Cross |
| 28 | ShoupJames M. Masters, Sr. | O-04 Major general | July 31, 1961 | June 14, 1962 | 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 | June 15, 1962 | April 9, 1963 | 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 | April 10, 1963 | July 9, 1965 | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", later Nuclear arms race activist |
| 31 | ShoupEdward H. Hurst (acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | July 10, 1965 | August 10, 1965 | Veteran of Battle of Okinawa and Battle of Peleliu; Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 32 | ShoupLewis J. Fields | O-04 Major general | August 11, 1965 | September 30, 1966 | 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 | October 1, 1966 | May 31, 1967 | 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 |
| 34 | ShoupDonn J. Robertson | O-04 Major general | June 1, 1967 | June 26, 1968 | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Navy Cross, two awards of Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 35 | ShoupCarl A. Youngdale | O-04 Major general | June 27, 1968 | December 20, 1968 | 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" |
| 36 | ShoupOrmond R. Simpson | O-04 Major general | December 21, 1968 | December 14, 1969 | 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 |
| 37 | ShoupEdwin B. Wheeler | O-04 Major general | December 15, 1969 | April 26, 1970 | 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", |
| 38 | ShoupCharles F. Widdecke | O-04 Major general | April 27, 1970 | April 29, 1971 | 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", |
| 39 | ShoupRoss T. Dwyer | O-04 Major general | April 30, 1971 | August 10, 1972 | Veteran of World War II and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", |
| 40 | ShoupAdolph G. Schwenk | O-04 Major general | August 11, 1972 | April 30, 1973 | Veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War; Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V", |
| 41 | ShoupKenneth J. Houghton | O-04 Major general | May 1, 1973 | August 12, 1974 | 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 | ShoupWilliam L. McCulloch | O-04 Brigadier general | August 13, 1974 | June 1, 1975 | 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 | ShoupCharles D. Mize | O-04 Major general | June 2, 1975 | July 29, 1976 | 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 |
| 44 | ShoupEdward A. Wilcox | O-04 Major general | July 30, 1976 | July 5, 1977 | Veteran of World War II |
| 45 | ShoupMarc A. Moore (acting) | O-04 Brigadier general | July 6, 1977 | August 7, 1977 | Veteran of Korean War and Vietnam War; Legion of Merit |
| 46 | ShoupCharles G. Cooper | O-04 Major general | August 8, 1977 | August 8, 1979 | 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 | August 9, 1979 | July 31, 1980 | 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 | August 1, 1980 | August 12, 1982 | 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 | August 13, 1982 | June 13, 1985 | 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 | June 14, 1985 | April 23, 1986 | Veteran of Vietnam War; Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 51 | ShoupMatthew T. Cooper | O-04 Brigadier general | April 24, 1986 | August 13, 1986 | |
| 52 | ShoupJames J. McMonagle | O-04 Major general | August 14, 1986 | July 19, 1988 | Veteran of Vietnam War; Legion of Merit with Combat "V" |
| 53 | ShoupJohn P. Monahan | O-04 Major general | July 20, 1988 | August 7, 1990 | Veteran of Vietnam War; United States Naval Academy alumni; Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
| 54 | ShoupJames M. Myatt | O-04 Major general | August 8, 1990 | July 8, 1992 | Veteran of Vietnam War; Silver Star |
| 55 | ShoupCharles E. Wilhelm | O-04 Major general | July 9, 1992 | December 8, 1992 | 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 | December 9, 1992 | March 23, 1993 | 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 | March 24, 1993 | June 22, 1994 | 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 | June 23, 1994 | June 6, 1996 | 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 | June 7, 1996 | July 24, 1998 | Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of Legion of Merit |
| 60 | ShoupMichael Hagee | O-04 Major general | July 25, 1998 | July 24, 1999 | 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 | July 24, 1999 | July 11, 2000 | 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 | July 11, 2000 | August 8, 2002 | 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 | August 9, 2002 | August 1, 2004 | 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 | August 2, 2004 | June 1, 2006 | 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 | June 2, 2006 | May 22, 2007 | 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 | May 22, 2007 | September 1, 2007 | 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 | September 1, 2007 | July 1, 2009 | 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 | July 1, 2009 | August 1, 2010 | 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 | August 1, 2010 | June 30, 2011 | 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 | June 30, 2011 | June 10, 2013 | 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 | June 10, 2013 | July 30, 2015 | 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 | July 30, 2015 | September 10, 2015 | 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 | September 10, 2015 | June 23, 2017 | 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 | June 23, 2017 | July 6, 2018 | 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 | July 6, 2018 | September 22, 2020 | 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 | September 22, 2020 | July 8, 2022 | 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 | July 8, 2022 | July 2, 2024 | 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 | July 2, 2024 | November 26, 2024 | Veteran of Iraq War; Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |
| 79 | SavageThomas B. Savage | O-04 Major general | November 26, 2024 | Incumbent | Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" |