Keith J. Stalder

Keith J. Stalder
LtGen Keith J. Stalder, USMC
Born	Venezuela
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	VMFA-531 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade Training and Education Command II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Pacific
Battles/wars	Cold War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2)

Lieutenant General Keith J. Stalder is a retired United States Marine Corps general, who last commanded the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific from August 22, 2008, to September 2, 2010.

Biography

Keith Stalder was born in Venezuela and grew up in Alaska. A 1984 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he holds a master's degree in Aeronautics. He is also a graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy.

He has flown the F-4 Phantom II and the F/A-18 Hornet with VMFA-333, VMFA-235, VMFA-115, the Navy's VFA-125, VMFA-531 and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). He also served at Headquarters, European Command, Stuttgart, Germany as the Operations Division Chief for the military-to-military contact program for Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He led the Marine Corps' F/A-18 Hornet Introduction Team (HIT) in the early 1980s, commanded VMFA-531 and MAWTS-1 and was the Deputy Director for Plans and Policy, United States Central Command, during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Stalder also previously served as the Deputy and Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade^[1] and Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, in Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Later, he became the Assistant Wing Commander, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, rising to become the Commanding General during a second tour in the Iraq war^[2][3] and

Stalder commanded the Training and Education Command starting in 2005.^[4] He relinquished command to MajGen George J. Flynn on July 21, 2006.^[5] In 2006, Stalder become Commanding General of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, and relinquished command to LtGen Dennis J. Hejlik on July 25, 2008.^[6]

On February 8, 2008, Stalder was nominated for appointment as the commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific; commanding general, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific; and commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific, and for reappointment to the rank of lieutenant general.^[7] He assumed command on August 23, 2008.^[8][9] He relinquished command and retired on September 2, 2010.

Decorations

His personal decorations include:

Naval Aviator Badge
1st Row		Navy Distinguished Service Medal	Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 oak leaf cluster
2nd Row	Legion of Merit	Meritorious Service Medal	Air Medal with 2 Strike/Flight awards	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 1 award star
3rd Row	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal	Navy Presidential Unit Citation	Joint Meritorious Unit Award	Navy Unit Commendation
4th Row	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation	National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars	Iraq Campaign Medal	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
5th Row	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Korea Defense Service Medal	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 7 service stars	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon w/ 1 service star

Notes

1. Cpl. Walker, Kyle J. (May 3, 2003). "Commando's general speaks". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
2. SSgt White Jr., Houston F. (May 29, 2004). "3rd MAW changes commanding generals in Iraq". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
3. Jim Garamone (December 14, 2004). "Aviation Continues to Aid Fallujah Mission". DefenseLINK News. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
4. Cpl. Teslevich, Jonathan K. (August 5, 2005). "3rd MAW commanding general relinquishes reins". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
5. LCpl. Travis J. Crewdson (August 3, 2006). "TECOM change of command". Quantico Sentry. Marine Corps Base Quantico, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
6. "II MEF Change Of Command". Marine Corps Gazette. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
7. "Military News: General Officer Announcements". The Conservative Voice. February 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
8. Cole, William (August 23, 2008). "New commander for Marine Forces Pacific". The Honolulu Advertiser. MarineCorpsTimes.com. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
9. Official Marien Corps Biography, 2008.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

• "Official Biography: Lieutenant General Keith J. Stalder — Commander, U. S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific". Biographies — General Officers & Senior Executives. Manpower & Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
• Marion, Lance Cpl. Brian A. (August 22, 2008). "Goodman relinquishes command of MarForPac". marines.mil. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-25.