Captain Maxwell F. Bernstein, Weapons Company commander, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, was awarded the Lieutenant Col. Joseph R. “Bull” Fisher Award for superior leadership and motivation as a commissioned officer during an award ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 21, 2014. Bernstein, a 28-year-old native of Wilmette, Ill., and a 2004 graduate of Lake Forest Academy, led Marines during multinational exercises in Australia in 2013, including Exercise Talisman Sabre and Exercise Koolendong. As a first lieutenant, Bernstein served in a position usually filled by a higher-ranking major. His dedication helped the Marines succeed during an eight-month deployment to Okinawa, Japan, as part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Bernstein is also a recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat V for valor, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Harrer / cleared for release)