Colonel Drew A. Bennett

4th Marines Regimental CO

          Col Bennett was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program on 14 May 1977.  After graduation from the Basic School, he served in 3^rd Battalion, 2^nd Marines as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, Dragons Platoon Commander, Battalion Assistant Operations Officer, and the Company Commander of Lima Company, 3/2. 

            After completing the Naval Aerial Observer course, Col Bennett was assigned to Marine Observation Squadron (VMO) One in 1981 and promoted to Captain in 1982.  He was attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 162 as the Intelligence Officer from May to Dec of 1983 and deployed with the 24^th Marine Amphibious Unit to Beirut, Lebanon.

In 1984 Col Bennett was assigned as the Marine Officer Instructor at Texas A&M University.  In 1988 he was ordered to 1^st Battalion, 7^th Marines where he served as the Company Commander of Charlie 1/7 until his promotion to Major in 1989 when he was reassigned as the Battalion Operations Officer.  He deployed with 1/7 to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield and entered Kuwait as part of Task Force Ripper during Operation Desert Storm.

            After attending school for two years in Quantico, VA, Col Bennett was assigned to the Combined Forces Command, Korea in 1993 as the Amphibious Operations Officer and Crisis Action Team Executive Officer.  After completion of this tour in 1995 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to HQMC where he served as a project officer on the personal staff of the Commandant of the Marine Corps.  In 1996 Col Bennett was selected to participate in a one-year fellowship with the Office of the Speaker of the House.

            Col Bennett received orders to the 7^th Marine Regiment in 1997 and was assigned as the Regimental Operations Officer.  He commanded 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Marines from June 1998 to July 2000.  He was promoted to Colonel in July 2000 and attended the National War College.  In July 2001 Colonel Bennett was assigned as the Deputy Director of Operations, Plans, Policy and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps. 

            Col Bennett holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University, Master of Science degrees from Golden Gate University and the National War College, and a Doctoral Degree from Texas A&M University.  His service schools include the Army Airborne Course, The Basic School, the Infantry Officer Course, the Naval Aerial Observers School, Amphibious Warfare School (correspondence), Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Warfighting, Armed Forces Staff College, the Air War College (seminar), and the National War College.  His personal decorations include the Bronze Star with combat “V”, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Marine Corps Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with numeral “1”, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, the Joint Achievement Medal, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star