Colonel John L. Mayer enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in June 1981, attended Marine Corps Recruit Training in San Diego and served as a Scout-Sniper with 3d Battalion, 24th Marines until commissioning in 1983. As an officer, he has served in a variety of command, instructor, staff, and student assignments.
Upon completion of The Basic School and Infantry Officers’ Course in December 1984, Colonel Mayer transferred to I Company, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines. He held billets as a rifle platoon commander, rifle company executive officer, and battalion assistant operations officer.
In December 1987, Col. Mayer transferred to The Basic School and served as a tactics instructor and staff platoon commander. Upon completion of this assignment, he reported to The School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and served as commanding officer, F Company; operations officer, Marine Combat Training Battalion; and chief instructor.
Col. Mayer graduated from the Amphibious Warfare School in May 1993 and reported to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein). During his four-year tour with the battalion, he served as commanding officer, Weapons Company; operations officer; and executive officer; and completed two Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) deployments.
In August 1997, Col. Mayer attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting.
In 1999, Col. Mayer transferred to the Marine Corps War Fighting Laboratory, where he served as operations officer and second-in-command of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (Experimental) (SPMAGTF(X)).
In August 2001, Col. Mayer transferred to the 1st Marine Division (Rein) and served as G-3 Plans Officer. He assumed command of 1st Battalion, 4th Marines (1/4) on 14 August 2002 and led the battalion through two combat tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II. During his first tour in Iraq, he served as the military governor of Babylon Province. During OIF II, 1/4 served as the Ground Combat Element for 11th MEU (SOC) and participated in the Battle of Najaf in August 2004. He relinquished command of the battalion in January 2005 and attended Top-Level School at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Upon completion of school, Col. Mayer commanded 31st MEU (31 MEU), home stationed in Okinawa, Japan from June 2006 to June 2008.
From June 2008 to June 2010, Col. Mayer was the deputy commander, Joint Task Force North, Fort Bliss, Texas. This command provides military support to law enforcement agencies in order to anticipate, detect, deter, prevent, and defeat transnational threats to the homeland.
His personal awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with combat “V” with gold star in lieu of second award, bronze star without devices, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars in lieu of third award, the Army Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is a Distinguished Graduate of The Basic School, Amphibious Warfare School, Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College, and earned two Masters Degrees while attending formal professional military education.
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