John F . Sattler Lieutenant General John F . Sattler , United States Marine Corps , was the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy , U . S . Joint Chiefs of Staff . He was also concurrently the United States ' representative to the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations . Biography . Sattler was born and raised in the Pittsburgh suburb of Monroeville , PA , he received his commission as second lieutenant in June 1971 , following graduation from the United States Naval Academy , where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics . Sattler was an accomplished wrestler at the Naval Academy , and qualified and wrestled in the NCAA national tournament three different years . In February 1972 , after completing The Basic School ( TBS ) , he was transferred to 2nd Battalion , 4th Marines in Okinawa where he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander . Returning to the United States in 1973 , he was assigned to the Reserve Division at Headquarters Marine Corps where he served until his reassignment to Amphibious Warfare School as a student in 1976 . Graduating with honors in 1977 , he was assigned to The Basic School where he served as a Tactics Instructor , Staff Platoon Commander ( SPC ) , and an Infantry Officer Course Instructor . Following his tour at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Sattler returned to 2nd Battalion , 4th Marines on Okinawa for duty as Battalion Operations Officer . Upon return to the United States in 1981 , he served as Infantry Weapons Procurement Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps until 1985 . He graduated with honors from Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 1986 , and reported to 2nd Marine Division for his third tour with 2nd Battalion , 4th Marines , this time as the Executive Officer . In 1988 , Sattler was assigned as Commander , Ground Combat Element for Special Purpose MAGTF 4 - 88 . After serving as J - 3 , Ground Officer for Joint Operation Solid Shield , he spent one year at Headquarters Marine Corps before being assigned to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces ( ICAF ) at the National Defense University , Washington , D . C . He graduated with distinction in June 1991 and reported for duty as Congressional Liaison Officer to the U . S . House of Representatives . He detached from this assignment in August 1995 , and took command of 2nd Marine Regiment on August 12 , 1995 . He was promoted to Brigadier General at his change of command on May 29 , 1997 and assumed his duties as Assistant Division Commander , 2nd Marine Division that same day . In September 1998 , Sattler reported to the Joint Staff and assumed duties as the Deputy Director for Operations ( Combating Terrorism ) J - 34 . In July 2000 , he transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps to assume the duties as the Director , Public Affairs Division . In July 2001 , he assumed duties as the Commanding General of 2nd Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . In November 2002 , he assumed duties as Commander , Combined Joint Task Force , Horn of Africa . In August 2003 , he assumed duties as Director of Operations , U . S . Central Command . Sattler was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of I Marine Expeditionary Force on September 12 , 2004 , during which time he deployed to Iraq . On August 3 , 2005 , Lieutenant General Sattler also assumed the duties as Commander , U . S . Marine Forces Central Command ( MARCENT ) . On 5 July 2006 , the Pentagon announced Sattler ' s nomination to be the U . S . Joint Chiefs of Staff ' s Director of Strategic Plans and Policy ( J - 5 ) . Lieutenant General Sattler relinquished command of the I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Central Command on August 14 , 2006 . He was assigned as Director for Strategic Plans and Policy , Joint Staff on September 1 , 2006 . Lieutenant General Sattler retired effective 1 August 2008 .