Lawrence D. Nicholson

Lawrence D. Nicholson (born June 29, 1956) is a retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General who served as Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force from 2015 to 2018, having previously commanded the 1st Marine Division from 2012 to 2015.

Lawrence D. Nicholson
Born (1956-06-29) June 29, 1956
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1979–2018
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands heldIII Marine Expeditionary Force
1st Marine Division
1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade
5th Marine Regiment
Task Force Leatherneck
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal

Marine Corps career

He was commissioned via the Naval ROTC program at The Citadel in 1979, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English. His initial assignment was as a Platoon Leader with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines under the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. He served as Series Commander and Company Commander at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego from 1982 to 1985. He has extensive experience in Iraq having led Regimental Combat Team 1 during Operation Phantom Fury, where he was wounded in action;[1] served as a staff officer with the 1st Marine Division in Ramadi and commanded the 5th Marine Regiment in Fallujah.[2]

In Afghanistan he commanded Task Force Leatherneck and the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Helmand Province along with serving as Deputy Commander for Operations of the International Security Assistance Force.[3] Prior to assuming command of 1st MARDIV he was Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
General Nicholson earned a Masters Degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College; he retired and passed command of III Marine Expeditionary Force to Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith, who is also a former 1st Marine Division commander, on August 2, 2018.[4][5][6] Nicholson is an Advisory Board Member of Spirit of America, a 501(c)(3) organization.[7]

References

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