Biography
Commanding Officer, 2d Battalion, 11th Marines
LtCol J. J. Colwell

Lieutenant Colonel Colwell is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas and was commissioned in 2004 from the United States Naval Academy. Following the Basic School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to Battery T, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines where he served as a Forward Observer, Platoon Commander, Fire Direction Officer, and Executive Officer. He deployed twice to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in 2006 and 2008 supporting Operation IRAQI FREEDOM conducting Task Force Military Police and Rocket Battery Operations. During this tour he was promoted to the rank of Captain.


In August of 2008, Captain Colwell reported to Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group, Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Training Command, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. He held the billet of Assistant Fire Support and Information Operations Representative, providing safety backstop and fire support/information operations assessments to infantry battalions during the conduct of Mojave Viper and Enhanced Mojave Viper. In July of 2011, Captain Colwell attended the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia, and graduated in May of 2012.


In May of 2012, Captain Colwell was assigned to 3d Battalion, 11th Marines and took command of Headquarters Battery. In November of 2012, he took command of Battery K and deployed in February of 2013, reinforcing the United States Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen. Upon return to Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, he relinquished command in February of 2014 and was assigned as the Assistant Fire Support Coordinator to 7th Marines. Captain Colwell was promoted to Major in October of 2014. In July of 2015, Major Colwell attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, and graduated in June of 2016 with a Masters in Military Studies.

In June of 2016, Major Colwell reported to the Commandant’s Staff Group, Headquarters Marine Corps and assumed duties as the Speechwriter to the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps.


Major Colwell reported to 3d Battalion, 11th Marines in July of 2018 serving as the Executive Officer. In October of 2019, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE as the Director/J-33 of the Common Situational Awareness Room, NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan / Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan.


In May of 2020, Maj Colwell was assigned to 11th Marines serving as the Operations Officer. In November of 2020, Maj Colwell was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In June of 2021, Lieutenant Colonel Colwell assumed the duties of Executive Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Colwell assumed his current duties as the Commanding Officer of 2d Battalion, 11th Marines in June of 2022.

His personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Joint Service Commendation Medal with C Device, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

 
1st Marine Division