Ronald S . Coleman Lieutenant General Ronald S . Coleman ( born c . 1950 ) is a retired United States Marine . LtGen Coleman , advanced in rank to lieutenant general on October 27 , 2006 , became the second African - American in the Marine Corps to reach the 3 - star rank . Military service . Upon graduating from Darby - Colwyn Senior High School , Darby , Pennsylvania , General Coleman joined the United States Navy in April 1968 and was discharged upon his return from Danang , Republic of Vietnam in June 1970 . Upon graduation from Cheyney State University in 1973 , he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1974 . Following the Basic School in 1975 , he reported to Camp Lejeune with 2nd Marine Regiment and served as the Regimental Supply Officer , Platoon Commander , and S - 4A . In November 1977 , he transferred to 3rd Force Service Support Group , Okinawa , Japan , and deployed with Landing Support Unit Foxtrot . In November 1978 , he reported to Officer Candidate School and served as the S - 4 , Supply Officer , Candidate Platoon Commander and Director , Non - Commissioned Officer School . He attended Amphibious Warfare School during the 1981 - 82 academic year and was then transferred to HQMC Officer Assignment Branch , and served as a company grade monitor and Administrative Assistant to the Director , Personnel Management Division . In August 1985 , Major Coleman was assigned as an Instructor at Amphibious Warfare School . In 1987 , he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College . In 1988 , he returned to Okinawa and served as the Operations Officer , 3rd Landing Support Battalion ; Executive Officer , 3rd Maintenance Battalion ; and Commanding Officer , Combat Service Support Detachment 35 , Contingency Marine Air Group Task Force 4 - 90 . In June 1991 , he reported to HQMC and served as the Logistics Project Officer and Head , Maintenance Policy Section , Installations and Logistics Branch . He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in May 1992 . In June 1993 , he assumed duty as Commanding Officer , 2nd Maintenance Battalion , 2nd Force Service Support Group , and in December 1994 , was reassigned as the Group Deputy Operations Officer . In August 1995 , he reported to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces , National Defense University . In 1996 , he reported to the Pentagon in the Logistics Directorate J - 4 , as Deputy Division Chief , Logistic Readiness Center . He was promoted to colonel in July 1997 and returned to Camp Lejeune in 1998 for duty with the 2nd Marine Division as the Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 4 . In April 1999 , he deployed to the Balkan Region and served as J - 4 , Joint Task Force Shining Hope . He assumed command of 2nd Supply Battalion in July 1999 . In June 2001 he reported to HQMC as the Assistant Deputy Commandant Installations and Logistics ( Facilities ) and was promoted to brigadier general in November 2002 . General Coleman reported to 2nd Force Service Support Group in June 2003 and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Commanding General Special Purpose MAGTF until November 2003 . He deployed again from February 2004 until June 2004 as Commanding General , Combined Joint Task Force Haiti , in support of Operation Secure Democracy . For his leadership in Haiti , the French government awarded him the Gold Medal of French Defense . General Coleman was assigned as the Director , Personnel Management Division on July 1 , 2005 and was advanced in rank to Major General in May 2006 . On September 29 , 2006 , General Coleman was assigned as Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and selected for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General . Coleman received his third star on October 27 , 2006 . He is only the second African American to attain the rank of Lieutenant General in the United States Marine Corps . In December 2009 , Coleman returned and turned his post over to LtGen Richard C . Zilmer .