Ronald L. Bailey

Ronald L. Bailey
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1977– 2017
RankLieutenant General
Commands2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion

2nd Marine Regiment
3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
1st Marine Division

Marine Corps Recruiting Command[1][2]
AwardsDefense Superior Service Medal (2)

Ronald L. Bailey is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. He was the first African American to command the 1st Marine Division, from 2011 to 2013.[3][4]

Education

Bailey attended St. Augustine High School in St. Augustine, Florida, before graduating from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee in 1977 and was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant that same year. He is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He served as an infantry officer.[1][5]

When appointed to the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Bailey said "...leadership is about influence and relationships – relationships with the American people. Our nation’s citizens expect us to be America’s expeditionary force in readiness committed to their protection at home and abroad; we will honor that expectation with the professional and empathetic execution of our mission within their communities nationwide."[6]

Career

Bailey was appointed in January 2011 to head the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, where he commanded more than 22,000 troops.[7] He also served as commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.[3][6][8]

In June 2013, Bailey was promoted to lieutenant general and assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations.[9] Bailey retired from the United States Marine Corps after 41 years of service, on July 31, 2017.[9] In 2020 he was honored with a historic marker at Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park in his hometown of St. Augustine, Florida.

In 2020, he was Vice-President for Institutional Advancement at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, the university from which he graduated in 1977.[4] After that, he became Vice President, Industry Development at the National Electric Contractors Association.[10][11]

He is a director of the Travis Manion Foundation.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Official Biography: Major General Ronald L. Bailey". Slsp.manpower.usmc.mil. 1977-07-01. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  2. ^ "Official Biography: Major General Ronald L. Bailey". Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
  3. ^ a b "Camp Pendleton welcomes new commander". Marines.mil. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  4. ^ a b Oliver, Keith (2020-10-25). "Line of defense". Daily Commercial. Leesburg, Florida. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  5. ^ Ritchie, Erika I. (June 30, 2011). "1st Marine Division ushers in new legacy". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  6. ^ a b "First African-American Appointed to Command 1st Marine Division - Camp Pendleton, CA Patch". Camppendleton.patch.com. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  7. ^ Mark Walker (June 30, 2011). "MILITARY: Maj. Gen. Ronald Bailey takes command of 1st Marine Division". North County Times. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  8. ^ "1st Marine Division gets first African American commander - latimes.com". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  9. ^ a b Deen, Lango (November 6, 2017). "The Few. The Proud. The Marines". US Black Engineer News. Career Communications Group, Inc. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  10. ^ National Electrical Contractors Association. "NECA Names Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, USMC (Ret.), As Vice President Of Industry Development". prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  11. ^ "Ronald Bailey". National Electric Contractors Association. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  12. ^ "Lieutenant General Ronald L. Bailey, USMC (Ret.) | Travis Manion Foundation". www.travismanion.org. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
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