Lorna Mahlock
Lorna M. Mahlock is the first Black woman to be nominated as a Brigadier general (one star) in the United States Marine Corps, which occurred in 2018. The signoff of the nomination, by President Donald Trump, was announced in a press release by U.S. Secretary of Defense General James Mattis. As of March 2019, BGen Mahlock is the Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and the Deputy Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Marine Corps.[2] Previously, she served as the Deputy Director of Operations, Plans, Policies, and Operation Directorate at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.[3][4][5]
Lorna M. Mahlock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | ~1969[1] |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1985–present |
| Rank |  |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal |
Early life and education
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she immigrated to Brooklyn, New York and enlisted in the Marine Corps. She was selected for the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, graduated from Marquette University and was commissioned in December 1991.[2]
Career
Designated as an Air Traffic Control Officer, she earned certifications as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Tower Local Controller and a Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor. She has commanded and led at various levels globally and in combat including but not limited to: Air Traffic Control Detachment Commander; Executive Officer - 1st Stinger Battery; Director - Marine Corps Instructional Management School; Air Control Officer - G3 Future Operations 1st Marine Aircraft Wing; Company Commander - Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom 1; Operations and Executive Officer - Operation Iraqi Freedom 2; Director - Marine Air Command and Control System Experimental; Commanding Officer - Iraqi Freedom 8; Information Management Officer; J3 Land Operations Lead and Division Executive Officer, Headquarters European Command; Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs and Assistant Chief of Staff G6.[2]
She holds a master's degree in Adult and Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma at Norman; a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies with distinction from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island; a Masters in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College; and a Masters Certificate in Information Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School. She is also a Higher Command and Staff Course graduate of the United Kingdom Joint Services Command and Staff College [2]
Awards
Brigadier General Mahlock's personal awards include Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Good Conduct Medal.[2]
References
- Schogol, Jeff (13 April 2018). "A decorated colonel is set to be the first black woman to serve as a Marine Corps general". Business Insider.
Mahlock, 49, has served in the prestigious post of deputy director of plans, policies and operations since July 2017.
- "BGen Lorna M. Mahlock". Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Headquarters Marine Corps. US Marine Corps. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Mascall, Kandis; Ramos, Stephanie (Apr 12, 2018). "Marine Corps selects 1st black woman to be a general officer". ABC News. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- Mattis, James (April 10, 2018). "General Officer Announcements: U.S. Department of Defense". Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- Tatum, Sophie (12 April 2018). "1st black woman nominated to be Marine brigadier general". CNN politics. 2016 Cable News Network. Retrieved 13 April 2018.