Marine Corps to get a new top general

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lt. Gen. James Conway, a former commander in Iraq who holds a senior post at the Pentagon, has been nominated to head the U.S. Marine Corps, the Defense Department said on Tuesday.

President George W. Bush's nomination of Conway comes at a sensitive time for the Marines, with criminal investigations underway that could lead to murder charges in the deaths of Iraqi civilians in separate incidents in November and April.

Conway, director of operations for the military's Joint Staff, would be promoted to the position of Marine Corps commandant to replace Gen. Michael Hagee, who had been scheduled to leave the post after serving since 2003.

Hagee recently returned from Iraq, where he gave Marines a message to "use lethal force only when justified, proportional and, most importantly, lawful." This comes as criminal investigators probe a November incident in Haditha in which Marines are suspected of killing 24 unarmed civilians.

"The confirmation could last a while and no determination has been made as to when (Hagee) is going to leave," said Lt. Col. Scott Fazekas, a U.S. Marine Corps spokesman at the Pentagon.

Fazekas said he did not know if Hagee planned to retire from the military, saying the general "has not discussed his future plans."

Conway commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in two combat tours in Iraq.

Hoo Rah for selection of a combat Marine.

Official Bio...

Lieutenant General James T. Conway currently serves as the Director of Operations, J-3, on the Joint Staff, Washington DC.

Lieutenant General Conway was commissioned in 1970 as an infantry officer and served initially with the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, Camp Pendleton, as a rifle platoon commander and as the Battalion's 106mm recoilless-rifle platoon commander. Subsequently, he served as a company commander in the Infantry Training Regiment; as Executive Officer of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63); at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego as a series and company commander in the Recruit Training Regiment, as the aide to the Commanding General, and as Director, Sea School.

After career level school in 1977, he reported to 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division where he commanded two companies and served in the Regiment's S-3. Posted to The Basic School he commanded two companies of officer students and taught tactics. Following intermediate level school, his next tour was as operations officer for the 31st MAU, where he spent 13 months at sea in WESTPAC and in contingency operations off Beirut, Lebanon.

Returning to CONUS in July 1984, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, and later served two years as Senior Aide to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Upon completion of top level school, he was reassigned to the 2d Marine Division serving as Division G-3 Operations Officer before assuming command of 3d Battalion, 2d Marines in January 1990. Under his command Battalion Landing Team 3/2 deployed to Southwest Asia for eight months for Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Selected for colonel, he was assigned as the Ground Colonels' Monitor, HQMC. He assumed command of The Basic School on April 30, 1993 and in that role was selected for Brigadier General in December 1995. Re-assigned to the Joint Staff, he served as the Deputy Director of Operations J-3 for Combating Terrorism. He then served as the President, Marine Corps University at Quantico, VA. After being selected for promotion to Major General, he assumed command of the 1st Marine Division. In November of 2002 LtGen Conway was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. He commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq.

His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold stars in lieu of second and third awards, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Lieutenant General Conway graduated with honors from The Basic School, the U.S. Army Infantry Officers' Advanced Course, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.

(Personal commentary: The slection of a combat Marine will, of course, irk the dems in the Senate. I hope they have the idiocy to try to make it a tough nomination hearing... It's fun to watch them squirm.)

That's Ooh-Rah, Squidly.

Lieutenant General James T. Conway Director of Operations, J-3, on the Joint Staff




Lieutenant General James T. Conway currently serves as the Director of Operations, J-3, on the Joint Staff, Washington DC. Lieutenant General Conway was commissioned in 1970 as an infantry officer and served initially with the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, Camp Pendleton, as a rifle platoon commander and as the Battalion's 106mm recoilless-rifle platoon commander. Subsequently, he served as a company commander in the Infantry Training Regiment; as Executive Officer of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63); at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego as a series and company commander in the Recruit Training Regiment, as the aide to the Commanding General, and as Director, Sea School. After career level school in 1977, he reported to 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division where he commanded two companies and served in the Regiment's S-3. Posted to The Basic School he commanded two companies of officer students and taught tactics. Following intermediate level school, his next tour was as operations officer for the 31st MAU, where he spent 13 months at sea in WESTPAC and in contingency operations off Beirut, Lebanon. Returning to CONUS in July 1984, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, and later served two years as Senior Aide to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Upon completion of top level school, he was reassigned to the 2d Marine Division serving as Division G-3 Operations Officer before assuming command of 3d Battalion, 2d Marines in January 1990. Under his command Battalion Landing Team 3/2 deployed to Southwest Asia for eight months for Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Selected for colonel, he was assigned as the Ground Colonels' Monitor, HQMC. He assumed command of The Basic School on April 30, 1993 and in that role was selected for Brigadier General in December 1995. Re-assigned to the Joint Staff, he served as the Deputy Director of Operations J-3 for Combating Terrorism. He then served as the President, Marine Corps University at Quantico, VA. After being selected for promotion to Major General, he assumed command of the 1st Marine Division. In November of 2002 LtGen Conway was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. He commanded I MEF during two combat tours in Iraq. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold stars in lieu of second and third awards, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. Lieutenant General Conway graduated with honors from The Basic School, the U.S. Army Infantry Officers' Advanced Course, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Air War College. (Revised 2 November 2005)

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