Charles E . Wilhelm General Charles E . Wilhelm ( born August 26 , 1941 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served two combat tours of duty in Vietnam . He later served as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Division ; as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense ; and as the Commander , U . S . Southern Command ( 1997 – 2000 ) . General Wilhelm retired from the Marine Corps in 2000 , after 37 years of service . Biography . Charles E . Wilhelm was born in 1941 , a native of Edenton , North Carolina . Wilhelm graduated from Florida Southern College in 1964 with a B . S . in journalism . He earned a M . S . degree in management from Salve Regina College . He is a graduate of the Army Infantry Officer ’ s Advance Course and the Naval War College , which in 1999 awarded him its Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award . Military career . General Wilhelm held a variety of command positions . He commanded a rifle platoon and company during two tours in Vietnam ; served as a company commander in Headquarters Battalion and 3rd Battalion , 8th Marines , 2nd Marine Division ; was the Senior Advisor to a Vietnamese Army Battalion ; Inspector - Instructor , 4th Reconnaissance Battalion ; Deputy Provost Marshal , U . S . Naval Forces Philippines ; and commanded the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit . General Wilhelm ’ s staff assignments include Assistant Battalion Operations Officer ; Operations Officer and Executive Officer , 1st Battalion , 1st Marines . He served on the staffs of III Marine Amphibious Force ; Logistics , Plans , and Policy Branch , Installations and Logistics Department , HQMC , and J - 3 , Headquarters , U . S . European Command . In August 1988 , while assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations , II Marine Expeditionary Force , he was promoted to brigadier general , and was subsequently assigned as the Director of Operations , HQMC . In July 1990 , he was selected to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy and Missions , Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict . General Wilhelm assumed duties as Commanding General , 1st Marine Division , in July 1992 . He served as Commander Marine Forces Somalia from December 1992 to March 1993 as part of the U . S . led coalition in Operation RESTORE HOPE . General Wilhelm was confirmed for promotion to lieutenant general and assumed duties as the Commanding General , Marine Corps Combat Development Command , Quantico , Virginia , July 15 , 1994 . In August 1995 , he was assigned as Commander , U . S . Marine Corps Forces , Atlantic / Commanding General , Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic / Commander , U . S . Marine Corps Forces , Europe / Commander , U . S . Marine Corps Forces , South / Commanding General , II Marine Expeditionary Force / Commanding General , Marine Striking Force Atlantic , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . He was confirmed for promotion to general and assumed duties as the Commander , U . S . Southern Command on September 25 , 1997 ; he served in this position until October 2000 . General Wilhelm retired from the Marine Corps on November 1 , 2000 . Post - retirement . After retiring from the Marine Corps , General Wilhelm was a researcher with the U . S . Army War College Strategic Studies Institute . General Wilhelm is Distinguished Military Fellow on the staff of the Center for Defense Information . In 2003 , Wilhelm became Vice President at Battelle , responsible for homeland security issues . Awards & decorations . General Wilhelm ’ s personal decorations include :