Ronald G . Richard Major General Ronald G . Richard is a retired United States Marine Corps officer who last served as the Commanding General of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune . Biography . Richard was born and raised in Basile , Louisiana . In 1968 , he graduated from Louisiana State University ( LSU ) with a Bachelor ' s degree in History . Marine Corps career . Richard completed his training at The Basic School in February 1969 . He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam and was assigned to Battery I , 3rd Battalion , 12th Marines as a forward observer for 3rd Battalion , 4th Marines . Returning to Okinawa with the 3rd Marine Division , he served as Aide - de - Camp to the Commanding General , 3rd Marine Division . In July 1970 , he was reassigned to Quantico as a Staff Platoon Commander at The Basic School . 1970s . From 1971 to 1975 , he served with the 4th Marine Division in Louisiana and Texas . Promoted to captain , he returned to Quantico as a Company Commander at the Staff Non - Commissioned Officer ( SNCO ) Academy in mid - 1975 . Captain Richard completed the Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico in June 1977 , and subsequently attended the Senior Career Level Advance Course at Fort Sill , Oklahoma . In August 1977 , he reported to the 3rd Battalion , 12th Marines as the Fire Support Coordinator for the 4th Marines , and then became the Commanding Officer of Battery H . During 1978 , he posted to the Marine Security Guard Battalion , he served as the Executive Officer , Company F , Nairobi , Kenya . Following his promotion to major in 1979 , he commanded Company F , Marine Security Guard Battalion , responsible for embassy security guards for sub - Saharan Africa . Upon his return from overseas , Major Richard joined 4th Battalion , 11th Marines at Twentynine Palms , California , in August 1980 . He initially served as Commanding Officer of 1st 155 Howitzer Battery , and then as the Battalion S - 4 . Transferred to the newly activated 27th Marines , he served as the Regimental Executive Officer until 1982 when he was accepted for Intermediate Level School ( ILS ) . 1980s . In 1983 , he attended the Naval Command and Staff College , Newport , Rhode Island . While a student at the Naval Command and Staff College , he also earned a M . A . degree in International Relations from Salve Regina College . Selected to lieutenant colonel , he then reported to the Command and Staff College as an instructor in Landing Force Operations in July 1983 . Reassigned to Washington , DC , in 1986 , he served as the POM working representative and as Head , Plans and Policy , Training Department , Headquarters Marine Corps . Graduating from the Army War College , Carlisle , Pennsylvania , in 1988 , Lieutenant Colonel Richard joined the 2nd Marine Division , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , as the G - 3 Operations Officer . On June 16 , 1989 , he was reassigned to the 10th Marine Regiment as Regimental Commander . He was promoted to colonel on August 1 , 1990 and reassigned on August 16 , as the Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 and served in that billet throughout the Division ' s deployment to Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War . 1990s . In July 1991 , Colonel Richard joined Marine Corps Recruit Depot \ Eastern Recruiting Region , Parris Island , South Carolina , as the Depot Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 . He was assigned duty as Commanding Officer of the Recruit Training Regiment on May 1992 . While serving in this capacity , he was selected , for promotion to brigadier general and was advanced to that grade in May 1993 . In June 1993 , he assumed his duties as the Deputy Director for Operations , National Military Command Center , J - 3 , Joint Staff , Organization of the JCS , Washington , DC . He subsequently served as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs , ( Reserve Affairs ) , Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , DC . In June 1996 , Brigadier General Richard was assigned as the Commanding General of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center , Twentynine Palms , CA , where he was promoted to his current rank in March 1997 . From June 1998 to July 1999 , he served as Deputy Commander , U . S . Marine Corps Forces Atlantic , Norfolk , VA . Major General Richard ' s final assignment was Commanding General of Marine Corps Base , Camp Lejeune , NC from July 30 , 1999 until his retirement . Awards and Decorations . Richard ' s personal decorations include : In retirement . In June 2001 , after retirement from the Marine Corps , Major General Richard , an LSU alumnus , began a new career as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tiger Athletic Foundation ( TAF ) , a private , non - profit corporation dedicated to supporting LSU and all of its athletic programs . In his role as CEO of the Tiger Athletic Foundation , Major General Richard ' s responsibilities include fostering lines of communication with LSU ' s athletic and academic administration and developing support projects for all LSU athletic programs . In addition to maintaining TAF ' s community relations , he also oversees the day - to - day operations of the organization including staff development and fund raising activities . See also . United States Marine Corps < br > Tiger Athletic Foundation