Joseph J . McMenamin Brigadier General Joseph J . McMenamin is a general officer in the United States Marine Corps and is the Assistant Division Commander for the 2nd Marine Division . Early years . McMenamin was a 1970 graduate of La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor , Pennsylvania . He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Villanova University in May 1974 . Marine Corps service . McMenamin was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps via the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program . Completing The Basic School in December 1974 , he was assigned to 2nd Battalion , 9th Marines , 3rd Marine Division , Okinawa , Japan where he served as the 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander and Headquarters & Service Company Executive Officer . Returning from Okinawa in February 1976 , he was assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego where he served as a Series Officer , Battalion Adjutant and Regimental Adjutant . In October 1979 , he transferred to the 1st Marine Division , Camp Pendleton , California where he served as the Weapons Company Commander and the Battalion Fire Support Coordinator with the 2nd Battalion , 7th Marines for 3 years . Following this tour , he attended Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico , Virginia . After completing Amphibious Warfare School , McMenamin reported to The Basic School where he served as a Tactics Instructor , Tactics Section Chief , Student Company Commander and Assistant Tactics Group Chief . Selected for recruiting duty , he served as the Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station , Cincinnati , Ohio from June 1986 to June 1989 . After recruiting duty , he attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College . Completing school in June 1990 , he then served an Air - Ground exchange tour with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa , Japan . Returning to the United States in July 1991 , he was initially assigned as the G - 3 Training Officer of the 2nd Marine Division , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . He later assumed command of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in July 1992 . Completing this assignment in February 1994 , he completed his tour with the 2nd Marine Division as the Assistant Chief of Staff , Readiness . Following his tour with the 2nd Marine Division , he attended the Naval War College in June 1994 . Graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs in May 1995 , he reported for joint duty with the United States Central Command serving as the Strategy Branch Chief and Division Chief , Policy and Strategy Division in the J - 5 Plans and Policy Directorate . In June 1999 , he reported for duty as the Commanding Officer of the Sixth Marine Corps District . Brigadier General McMenamin relinquished command of the Sixth Marine Corps District on June 26 , 2001 . He served as the Commanding General , Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , South Carolina from June 27 , 2001 until May 25 , 2004 . In June 2004 he was assigned as the Director , Iraq Survey Group , Baghdad , Iraq . He assumed duties as the Assistant Division Commander of 2nd Marine Division during December 2004 . Awards and decorations . Brigadier General McMenamin ' s military decorations include :