John F . Goodman Lieutenant General John Floyd Goodman ( born November 5 , 1945 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps general . Early life . John Goodman was born and raised in Sacramento , California . He played football , basketball , and baseball while attending Encina High School . As the varsity quarterback , he earned All Conference , All City , All Sacramento County , and All Superior California honors his Senior year . Goodman graduated in 1963 . He then attended Arizona State University . Goodman was the Sun Devil starting quarterback in 1965 and 1966 leading the team in total offense both years . He earned a Bachelor ' s of Science in Business Administration from the university . Vietnam service . Goodman began his military service in 1967 with the United States Army . His first combat tour was in the Republic of Vietnam as a member of a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol team . He earned a Bronze Star with Combat " V " and the Soldier ' s Medal while in Vietnam . He transferred to the inactive Army Reserve in 1969 . Professional football . Goodman played professional football for the New Orleans Saints very briefly prior to entering the United States Marine Corps in 1971 . Marine Corps . Following commissioning , Goodman became a Naval Aviator in May 1973 at Naval Air Station Meridian , and was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma , where he completed flight training in the A - 4 Skyhawk . He later served as a Forward Air Controller with 3rd Battalion 6th Marines at Camp Lejuene . He graduated from the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor School , the United States Air Force Weapons School , and United States Navy Fighter Weapons School ( also known as TOPGUN ) . In 1979 , he transferred to MAWTS - 1 as an instructor and the A - 4 Department Head . After graduating with honors from Marine Corps Command and Staff College , Lieutenant General Goodman reported to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , and he served as the Operations Officer for VMA - 214 ; and later as the Director of Safety , Standardization , and Tactics for Marine Aircraft Group 13 . From 1985 to 1986 , Goodman was the Assistant Division Air Officer for 3d Marine Division , then returned to El Toro after conversion training to the F / A - 18 Hornet . After serving as the Executive Officer of the VMFA - 531 , the Assistant Group Operations Officer for Marine Combat Crew Readiness Training Group 10 , and the Group Operations Officer for Marine Aircraft Group 11 , he assumed command of VMFA - 531 on 28 October . In June 1990 , he went to Marine Corps Base Quantico , as a member of the first class of the Marine Corps War College . During the academic year , he served as the Air Plans Officer for I Marine Expeditionary Force in Kuwait for the Gulf War . Following end of hostilities , he completed War College and was assigned as the Director of the School of Advanced Warfighting . In July 1993 , Goodman assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 at Naval Air Station Dallas . In July 1995 , he returned to Quantico as the Deputy Director of the MAGTF Staff Training Program . Promoted to Brigadier General on May 1997 , he assumed the position of Director , Strategy , Policy and Plans ( J5 ) of United States Southern Command in June 1997 , becoming the Chief of Staff in May 1998 . In July 1999 , he returned to Quantico as the Director , Warfighting Development Integration Division . He was frocked to Major General in June 2001 and took command of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade on 6 July 2001 . From 5 August 2002 until 3 June 2004 , he commanded the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Okinawa . Goodman also served as the Commander , Marine Forces Korea and Assistant Chief of Staff , U / C / J - 5 , United Nations Command , Combined Forces Command , and United States Forces Korea from 4 June 2004 until 17 June 2005 . On 20 June 2005 , he reported for duty as Deputy Commander , and later as the Commander of , Marine Forces Pacific . Goodman logged more than 4100 hours in tactical jet aircraft while in the Marine Corps . Joint Task Force Caring Response . In 2008 , after Cyclone Nargis ravaged Burma , General Goodman commanded U . S . Joint Task Force Caring Response . Goodman , on numerous occasions , offered Burma ’ s military government the use of helicopters and surface craft to support humanitarian relief efforts in the most difficult - to - reach areas of the Irrawaddy Delta . The U . S . flew more than 116 flights , delivering more than 2 . 2 million pounds of needed relief supplies to the Rangoon hub . Other notable work . As MARFORPAC commander , Goodman also led the development of U . S . Pacific Command ’ s Consequence Support Force 503 functional plan to address the United States ’ military response to the threat of an Avian Influenza Pandemic outbreak in the Asia - Pacific region . On September 25 , 2007 , General Goodman conducted the promotion ceremony for Jim Nabors at Fort DeRussy in Honolulu , Hawaii . Nabors was promoted to Honorary Corporal in the United States Marine Corps based on his outstanding contributions to the Marine Corps and the United States . Post Marine Corps Career . On October 17 , 2008 , Goodman became the Director of Pacific Command ' s Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance . General Goodman participated in the 994th Wilton Park Conference , " The Use of Military Assets in the Humanitarian Response to Natural Disasters " held 28 – 30 September in West Sussex , United Kingdom . General Goodman chaired the sessions focusing on the strategic importance of collaborative partnerships . General Goodman is the Chairman of the Board of Advisors for Tactical Edge . Recent Honors . On October 29 , 2010 , Goodman was honored , along with all Sun Devil Quarterbacks , at a Legends Luncheon hosted by the Arizona State University Alumni Association and Sun Devil Club . Other honorees included Danny White , Andrew Walter , Jake Plummer , and Jeff van Raaphorst . On April 29 , 2011 , Goodman was the 1st inductee into the Encina High School Hall of Fame . Military decorations . His personal decorations include :