Command Advisor

Mr. Craig E. Stephens, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC (Retired)

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Stephens enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in August 1977 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Graduating from boot camp on 10 November 1977, he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class and subsequently attended Administrative Clerk's Course and Personnel Clerk's Course at Schools Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California.

In February 1978, he was transferred to Corrections Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA. While in his billet as Personnel Clerk, he was meritoriously promoted to the grades of Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant. In February, 1981, he was transferred to 1st Radio Battalion, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where he served at Legal Chief and Administrative Chief.

In 1984, he was transferred to 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton where he served as the Regimental Administrative Chief. While there, he attended the Staff Noncommissioned Officer's Academy - finishing second in his class. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in November 1984 and was transferred to Drill Instructor School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California in May 1985 where he finished second in his class and was assigned as a Drill Instructor with 2d Recruit Training Battalion.

Staff Sergeant Stephens was accepted to the Warrant Officer Program and appointed to Warrant Officer in January 1986. He subsequently attended the Warrant Officer Basic Course in Quantico, Virginia and the Personnel Officer's Course at Camp Lejeune. He was then transferred to Marine Barracks, Bangor, Washington where he served as Adjutant and Personnel Officer.

During his tour at Marine Barracks, Bangor, he was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, W-2 and was selected as a Limited Duty Officer and promoted to First Lieutenant in May 1989.

He was transferred in August 1989 to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division where he served as Personnel Officer. During this assignment, First Lieutenant Stephens deployed on two Landing Force Sixth Fleet deployments and participated in Operation SHARP EDGE in Monrovia, Liberia; Operation DESERT SHIELD; Operation DESERT STORM; and Operation PROVIDE COMFORT.

In July 1992, he was transferred to Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Norfolk, Virginia where he served as Adjutant. He was promoted to Captain in November 1992. In September 1996, he returned to Camp Lejeune for duty with U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic. Initially serving in the G-1 Operations Section, he was eventually reassigned as Adjutant, II Marine Expeditionary Force following the relocation of U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic to Norfolk, Virginia. He was promoted to Major in June 1998. He served as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, II Marine Expeditionary Force in April 2000 until his transfer in July 2000.

He assumed duties as Executive Officer, Personnel Administration and Legal Services School, Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, Camp Johnson where he served until March 2001 when he was assigned as the Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion. Upon deactivation of Headquarters and Service Battalion in January 2002, he resumed his duties as Executive Officer, Personnel Administration School.

He was transferred to 2d Force Service Support Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force in September 2002 where he served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1. He deployed to Kuwait with the Marine Logistics Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from February to June 2003. He also deployed to Haiti where he served as the J-1 Director, Combined Joint Task Force-Haiti in support of Operation SECURE TOMORROW from February to June 2004. He was transferred to II Marine Expeditionary Force in July 2004 where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and again assumed duties the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1 until his transfer to U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command in February 2006. He retired from the Marine Corps in October 2007 and remained assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1 for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command as a GS-employee (GS-14). He assumed his current duties as Command Advisor, Wounded Warrior Battalion-East in August 2009.

His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, and the Navy, Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one Gold Star, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Other decorations include the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak cluster, Good Conduct Medal with one bronze star, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation with three bronze stars, Drill Instructor Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three bronze stars, Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (K).

Mr. Stephens and his wife, Beverly, have been married for 31 years. They have four children: 2ndLt Daniel Stephens, U. S. Marine Corps, age 30; Warrant Officer Timothy Stephens, U. S. Army, age 28; Rachel Stephens, age 24; and Specialist David Stephens, U.S. Army Reserve, age 22. They also have four grandchildren: Dylan, Faith, Kaylah, and Aiden.