Gregg A . Sturdevant Gregg A . Sturdevant is a retired United States Marine Corps major general . At the time of his retirement , he was the director of strategic planning and policy for U . S . Pacific Command . From February 2012 to February 2013 , he commanded the Marines ' aviation wing at Camp Leatherneck / Camp Bastion in Afghanistan . Military career . Sturdevant is originally from St . Louis , Missouri . He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1975 and served in southern California and Okinawa , Japan , before being honorably discharged as a sergeant ( E - 5 ) in July 1979 . He then returned to college , receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in July 1982 , and was commissioned through the Platoon Leader Class - Air ( PLC - Air ) program . Upon completion of The Basic School , he reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida for flight training . Following completion of the advanced rotary - wing pipeline at Naval Air Station Whiting Field , Florida , he was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1984 . Following Fleet Replacement Squadron ( FRS ) training in the CH - 46 helicopter , he served in the following operational squadrons and assignments : Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 ( HMM - 364 ) , HMM - 162 , HMM - 365 , and was the commanding officer of HMM - 165 from July 2001 to May 2003 . His deployments included Unit Deployments to Okinawa , Landing Force , U . S . 6th Fleet ( LF6F ) Deployments , U . S . 5th Fleet Deployments , and participation in Operation Enduring Freedom ( OEF ) and Operation Iraqi Freedom I ( OIF I ) . Additionally , he served as a flight instructor in Pensacola , Florida and did a tour with 2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company ( ANGLICO ) at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . He was commanding officer , 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( 26th MEU ) from May 2006 to May 2008 . During that time the 26th MEU deployed in support of LF6F / LF5F and served as the landing force for the operational evaluation . He then served as commanding general , 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( Forward ) and commanding general , Bastion / Leatherneck Complex from February 2012 through February 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Helmand Province , Afghanistan . His major staff tours include duty at Headquarters Marine Corps in the Aviation Department ' s Plans , Policies , Joint Doctrine and Budget Branch ( APP ) where he served as the Landing Force Programs Officer focusing on rotary wing budget matters and a tour on the Joint Staff in the Operations Directorate ( J - 3 ) where he served as an Assistant Deputy Director for Global Operations . He has served in the following general officer assignments : director of public affairs , Headquarters Marine Corps ; deputy director for operations , J - 3 , Joint Staff ; and as the assistant deputy commandant for program and resources . In September 2013 , Sturdevant and Major Geneneral Charles M . Gurganus were forced into retirement after the Commandant of the Marine Corps , General James Amos , concluded they should be held accountable for failing to secure their base in Afghanistan against the September 2012 Taliban attack that killed two Marines and destroyed materiel . Education . Sturdevant received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in July 1982 . He also holds a Master of Science degree in management from Troy State University , a Master ' s degree in Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and a Master ' s degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College . He is also a graduate of the United States Air Force Air War College . Awards and decorations . Sturdevant ' s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster , Legion of Merit , Bronze Star , Meritorious Service Medal with 2 gold stars , Air Medal with a gold star , Combat " V " and the Strike / Flight numeral 2 , Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star , the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal , and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal .