Leslie M . Palm Leslie M . Palm ( born October 14 , 1944 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps major general who is currently the Publisher and CEO of the Marine Corps Association . His last active duty position was the Director , Marine Corps Staff , Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . ( 1996 – 1998 ) . Palm retired on September 1 , 1998 . Biography . Leslie Palm was born on October 14 , 1944 , in Marysville , California . He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1966 from the University of Oregon , where he was a member of Sigma Chi . He later earned a Master ' s Degree in Military Arts and Sciences from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1980 and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 1986 . Palm entered the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course Program and was commissioned a second lieutenant on November 1 , 1966 . Upon completion of The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia , in August 1967 , he attended Field Artillery Officers Basic Course at Fort Sill , Oklahoma , graduating in November 1967 . From December 1967 to December 1968 , Palm served in Vietnam as a Forward Observer and Fire Direction Officer in the 1st Battalion , 13th Marines at Khe Sahn . He also commanded a 155 mm gun platoon and 8 " platoon of the 5th 155 mm Gun Battery . Upon returning to the United States he was assigned to Fort Sill as a gunnery instructor in both the basic and career branches . While in this assignment , he was promoted to captain on December 1 , 1970 . In January 1972 , he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa where he commanded D Battery , 2nd Battalion , 12th Marines and served as the Battalion S - 3 Officer . Returning from overseas , he attended the Amphibious Warfare School , Quantico , then was reassigned to The Basic School , where he commanded the Artillery Demonstration Unit . During May 1974 , he transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps , where he was assigned to the Officer Assignment Section until June 1976 , when he was selected as the aide - de - camp to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps . He was promoted to major on July 1 , 1977 . From July 1977 to June 1979 , he served in the 2nd Marine Division , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , as the S - 3 Officer for the 1st Battalion , 10th Marines . He then attended the Army Command & General Staff College , graduating in June 1980 . General Palm was ordered to Amphibious Group Two in Little Creek , Virginia , where he served as Assistant Plans Officer and the Supporting Arms Coordinator . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on July 1 , 1982 . From July 1982 until October 1983 , he served as the Director of Manpower for the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms , California , then was reassigned to the 7th Marine Amphibious Brigade to command the 4th Battalion ( redesignation 5th Battalion ) , 11th Marines until July 1985 . He graduated from the Naval War College , Newport , R . I . , in June 1986 . He was again ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as the Head of Manpower Planning and Programming and Budgeting Section . On July 1 , 1988 , he was assigned as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Commandant . he was promoted to colonel on October 1 , 1988 . When the Office of the Assistant Commandant and the Office of the Chief of Staff were combined in February 1989 , he assumed the responsibilities of Secretary of the General Staff . On August 16 , 1990 , he assumed command of the 10th Marine Regiment and participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm . While serving in this capacity , he was selected in December 1991 for promotion to brigadier general . He was advanced to that grade on May 1 , 1992 , and assumed his duties as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs , ( Manpower Plans & Policy ) , Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . Brigadier General Palm assumed command of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms , California on August 16 , 1994 . In February 1995 , while serving as the Commanding General , MCAGCC Twentynine Palms , he was promoted to the grade of Major General . In 1996 , he became the Director , Marine Corps Staff , Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . , serving in that post until 1998 . Palm retired on September 1 , 1998 . Palm is currently the Publisher and CEO of the Marine Corps Association , which publishes the " Leatherneck Magazine " and the " Marine Corps Gazette .