Joseph J . Went Joseph J . Went ( born September 16 , 1930 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps four - star general . His final assignment was as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of Staff . He retired in 1990 after 38 years of service . Biography . Joseph J . Went was born in New Milford , Connecticut on 16 September 1930 . In 1953 , he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut . He received a master ’ s degree in Business Administration from George Washington University in 1963 , and graduated with distinction from the Naval War College in June 1972 . Marine Corps career . Went entered the Marine Corps in July 1952 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in December 1952 . Following completion of The Basic School in June 1953 , he underwent flight training at the Naval Air Station Pensacola . Second lieutenant Went was promoted to first lieutenant on 18 August 1954 , and was designated a naval aviator a month later . He was promoted to captain on 1 July 1956 , major on 1 November 1963 , lieutenant colonel on 1 October 1967 , and colonel on 1 July 1974 . During these years , he served with Marine attack , reconnaissance , transport and fighter squadrons . He commanded Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 12 , Marine Attack Squadron 214 , Marine Aircraft Group 24 , the 3rd Force Service Support Group , and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing . He also had extensive experience in operational and joint planning , financial management and logistics . Colonel Went assumed duty as Chief of Staff , 1st Marine Brigade , Hawaii , in April 1976 . While serving in this capacity , he was selected in February 1978 for promotion to brigadier general . He assumed duty as Deputy Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps on 1 April 1978 and was advanced to brigadier general on 1 August 1978 . In June 1980 , he was assigned duty as Commanding General , 3rd Force Service Support Group ( Rein ) , FMF , Pacific , Okinawa , Japan . He was advanced to major general on 2 June 1982 and assigned duty as Commanding General , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , FMF , Pacific , Okinawa , Japan . MajGen Went served in this capacity until May 1983 . On 6 June 1983 , he was assigned duty as the Deputy Commander , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , Camp H . M . Smith , Hawaii . During June 1984 , MajGen Went reported to Headquarters Marine Corps where he was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs . On 6 June 1985 , he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics and was promoted to lieutenant general on 1 August 1985 . Lieutenant General Went was appointed to the grade of general and reassigned as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 1 July 1988 . He assumed additional duties as the Chief of Staff on 6 October 1988 . He served in both these capacities until 31 July 1990 . Gen Went retired from the Marine Corps on 1 August 1990 after 38 years of military service . In retirement . General Went is on the board of directors of the Armed Services YMCA ( ASYMCA ) which provides support services to military service members and their families . Awards and decorations . General Went ’ s decorations include :