1st Marine Division Biographies

Maj Daniel T. Kovatch

Press Operations — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 23:39:00 GMT

Major Kovatch is a graduate of Indiana University. He commissioned in 2007 through the Platoon

LtCol Robert M. Jones, Jr.

Press Operations — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 16:38:01 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel. Robert (RJ) M. Jones Jr. enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May 1999

LtCol. Morris M. Sharber Jr.

Press Operations — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:11:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Sharber is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina and was commisioned in 2003 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He attend The Basic School and Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma from 2003 to 2004. In November of 2004 he was asigned to 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, Battery S for duty as the Guns Platoon Commander, Artillery Liaison Officer, and Battalion Fire Support Coordinator. During this tour he participated in two combat deployments. In December of 2004 he deployed as an Artillery Liaison Officer and Watch Officer to Fallujah, Iraq and attached to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. In September of 2006 he deployed as the Fire Support Coordinator for Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battlaion, 4th Marines on the 15h Marine Expeditionary Unit, and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom II in Barwanah, Iraq. From 2007 to 2010, Captain Sharber served as a Firepower Control Team Leader with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), Camp Pendleton, California. Captain Sharber deployed to Hit, Iraq from March 2008 to October 2008 in support of a Military Training Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2009 he graduated Army Airborne School and deployed to Afghanistan with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company from November 2009 to June 2010 where he served as a Firepower Control Team Leader and Air Officer in Nad-E-Ali, Afghanistan in support of British and Danish combat operations during Operation Enduring Freedom. Following his ANGLICO tour, he was selected to attended Expeditionary Warfare School. Upon graduation in May 2011, Maj Sharber was assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where he served as the Operations Officer, Logistics Officer and Battery Commander for Battery E, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines. From October 2012 to May 2013 Captain Sharber deployed to Okinawa, Japan as the Battery Commander for Battery E, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines as part of the Unit Deployment Program. Upon completion of his command tour, Captain Sharber was short toured in Hawaii and assigned to Manpower and Reserve Affairs in June 2013 where he served as the Ground Company Grade Monitor until June 2014. Captain Sharber was promoted to Major and then transferred billets to the Deputy Ground Lieutenant Colonel Monitor until July 2015. In 2015, Major Sharber was selected on the Commandant’s Professional Intermediate-level Education Board to attend Marine Corps Command & Staff College where he graduated with distinction in June 2016. From June 2016 until June 2019, Major Sharber served as the Commanding Officer of Recruitng Station New Jersey, First Marine Corps District, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. From July 2019, Major Sharber served as the Assistant Fire Support Coordinator to the First Marine Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in January 2020 and currently serves as Executive Officer of 11th Marines. Lieutenant Colonel Sharber’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal w/ one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ combat distinguishing device and w/ one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon w/ one gold star.

Maj. Joseph B. Hamilton

Press Operations — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:59:00 GMT

Major Hamilton, Joseph B.Executive Officer, 5th Battalion, 11th MarinesMajor Hamilton holds a B.S.

SgtMaj George III Garcia

Press Operations — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 20:05:00 GMT

Sergeant Major George Garcia III enlisted in the Marine Corps and reported to MCRD, San Diego, CA in October 1999. Following recruit training, Private Garcia attended Marine Combat Training at The School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, CA then went on to his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) school at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Monterey, CA. He was promoted to Private First Class in June 2000 and then to Lance Corporal in January 2001. He graduated MOS school in July 2001 and was assigned the MOS of 2671. Lance Corporal Garcia went on to additional MOS training at Goodfellow, Air Force Base, San Angelo, TX. In November 2001 Lance Corporal Garcia reported to 2d Radio Battalion (Bn), Camp Lejeune, NC where he served as a Signals Intelligence Marine. He was promoted to Corporal in November 2002. While stationed at 2d Radio Bn, he was assigned to a Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System (MEWSS) Team and deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 2003. He was promoted to Sergeant in October 2003. In August 2004, Sergeant Garcia deployed to Iraq with 2d Radio Bn serving as a team leader. He was Combat Meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant in May 2005, during this tour. Upon return from Iraq, Staff Sergeant Garcia was ordered to Company B, Marine Cryptologic Support Bn, Fort Meade, MD. During this assignment, he served as a platoon sergeant in Company B and became a graduate of the Military Language Analyst Program. During this tour he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. In June 2009, Gunnery Sergeant Garcia received orders to 1st Radio Bn, Camp Pendleton, CA. He served as a Watch Chief for the Operations Control and Analysis Center (OCAC). In February 2010, he deployed with 1st Radio Bn to Afghanistan serving as the OCAC Watch Chief. When 1st Radio Bn returned in January 2011, he served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant and later as the Operations Chief and Company First Sergeant for Company A. He was selected to First Sergeant during his tour with 1st Radio Bn. In February 2012, First Sergeant Garcia received orders for duty with Inspector-Instructor Staff, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 23 Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Austin, TX. In December 2014, he received orders to report for duty to 3d Maintenance Bn, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3d Marine Logistics Group. There he served as the Company First Sergeant for Intermediate Maintenance Company, Motor Transport Maintenance Company, and then Headquarters and Service Company. He was selected for Sergeant Major during this tour. In July 2017, Sergeant Major Garcia reported for duty to Combat Logistics Battalion 4, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3d Marine Logistics Group where he served as the Battalion Sergeant Major. In December 2018, he reported to 7th Communication Battalion to serve as the Battalion Sergeant Major. In August 2020, he reported for duty and is currently serving as the Sergeant Major for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal(4th award), and the Combat Action Ribbon.

SgtMaj Carlos A. Granados

Press Operations — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:30:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Granados enlisted in the Marine Corps on 21 December 1998 and underwent 2nd Recruit

Maj. Andrew, Hornfeck

Press Operations — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 17:47:00 GMT

2ndLt Andrew Hornfeck was commissioned in 2006. After graduation from The Basic School and Infantry

Lieutenant Colonel W. M. Moore

Press Operations — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 22:05:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Wilson Moore is a native of Murphysboro, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in May of 2002 and commissioned through the NROTC Program.

Lieutenant Edwin Y. Handley

Press Operations — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:03:00 GMT

Lieutenant Edwin Y. Handley is from San Diego, CA. LT Handley received a Bachelor’s of Theology with

LtCol Barret Bradstreet

Press Operations — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 23:40:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Barret Bradstreet is a native of Boston, Massachusetts and entered active service

Maj. William R. Appleby

Press Operations — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 21:40:49 GMT

Major William R Appleby, USMCExecutive Officer2d Battalion, 1st MarinesCamp Pendleton, CA Major

SgtMaj. Delwin K. Ellington

Press Operations — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:19:42 GMT

Sergeant Major Delwin K. Ellington enlisted in the Marine Corps on 11 May 1998. He attended Recruit

Col. Brandon W. Graham

Press Operations — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:18:02 GMT

A native of Minnesota, Colonel Graham was commissioned through the NROTC program in 1997 following

LtCol Andrew Terrell

Press Operations — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:51:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew E. Terrell graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in

Chaplain, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 18:54:38 GMT

Col. Daniel J. Skuce

Press Operations — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 16:26:00 GMT

Colonel Skuce is a native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan and was commissioned in 1997 from the United States Naval Academy. Following the Basic School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to Battery E, 2d Battalion, 10th Marines where he served as a Forward Observer and Battalion Liaison Officer. Reassigned to Battery G, 2d Battalion, 10th Marines, he deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit as the Battery Fire Direction Officer. In November of 2000, he reported to the Marine Detachment, Fort Sill, Oklahoma for duty as a gunnery instructor. He instructed the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, Captains Career Course, and served as the Senior Gunnery Instructor. During this tour he was promoted to the rank of Captain. In July of 2003, Captain Skuce attended the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia, and graduated in May 2004. In June of 2004, Captain Skuce was assigned to 5th Battalion, 11th Marines and took command of Headquarters Battery. In April of 2005, he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM as the Team Chief of the 2d Battalion, 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Division, Military Transition Team. Upon return to Camp Pendleton, he was reassigned to 1st Battalion, 11th Marines and took command of Battery A. Captain Skuce was promoted to Major in July 2007. In August of 2007, Major Skuce reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policies and Operations. He was subsequently assigned to the Ground Combat Element Branch and assumed duties as the Command and Control advocate and the Joint Terminal Attack Controller/Joint Fires Observer advocate. In April of 2009, Major Skuce was assigned as the Marine Aide-de-Camp to the Chief of Naval Operations. In July of 2010, Major Skuce attended the College of Naval Command and Staff in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated with a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies. Major Skuce reported to 1st Battalion, 11th Marines in July of 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM as the G-3 Advisor, 215th Afghan National Army Corps Advisor Team. Upon his return from Afghanistan, he served as the Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines and later as the Executive Officer, 11th Marine Regiment. In August of 2013, Major Skuce reported to I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and deployed again to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM with Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan as the Fires and Targeting Officer. Major Skuce was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in December 2013. In June of 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Skuce assumed command of 1st Battalion, 12th Marines. During this time, 1/12 deployed units to dispersed locations across the Pacific from Korea to California and conducted eight battalion live fire exercises. In June 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Skuce reported to the Eisenhower School, National Defense University. He graduated in June of 2017 with a Masters in National Resource Strategy. Lieutenant Colonel Skuce then reported to the Joint Staff, Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5), Joint Strategic Planning Deputy Directorate. In July of 2019 he assumed his current duties as the Commandant’s Senior Fellow to the Center for a New American Security. He was promoted to Colonel in November 2019. In July of 2020, Colonel Skuce assumed command of 11th Marines. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Col. Daniel J. Skuce

Press Operations — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 16:26:00 GMT

Maj. Louis J. Carrano

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:09:00 GMT

Maj Carrano was born on 25 October, 1983 in Lynbrook, NY. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and

SgtMaj Robert L. Jacobs

Press Operations — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 21:57:00 GMT

Sergeant Major Robert L. JacobsU. S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Jacobs joined the Marine Corps on

LtCol Zebulon C. Philpott

Press Operations — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 21:53:00 GMT

Lieutenant Colonel Zebulon C. Philpott0302 Infantry Officer In 2000, Lieutenant Colonel Philpott