Lt. Gen. Robert S. Walsh
Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, U.S. Marine Corps
Lieutenant General Robert S. Walsh is currently assigned as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; Commander, Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command; and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.
Lieutenant General Walsh was commissioned a Second Lieutenant from the United States Naval Academy in May 1979 and subsequently ordered to The Basic School at Quantico, VA. Following The Basic School he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division where he served as a rifle platoon commander with Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. In May 1980 he reported to Pensacola, FL for flight training. He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1981 and subsequently assigned to VT-26 at NAS Chase Field, TX as a Selectively Retained Graduate. While assigned to VT-26 he served as the NATOPS Officer and Airframes Officer.
He reported to VMFAT-101 in March 1983 to undergo training in the F-4 Phantom. Upon completion of the F-4 training syllabus he was ordered to VMFA-115 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC in November 1983. While in VMFA-115 he transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet, attended the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, and made two deployments before assuming duties as a flight instructor at TOPGUN in 1987. He returned to MCAS Beaufort in January 1990 and was assigned to VMFA-251, making two WESTPAC deployments, and was selected as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Aviator of the Year.
In July 1993, he reported to the 9th Marine Regiment as the Air Officer. He attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB before reporting to Headquarters, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany in 1995 where he served in the Plans and Policy Directorate.
In 1998, he returned to MCAS Beaufort for a third tour in Marine Aircraft Group 31 where he served as the Commanding Officer of VMFA-115 and deployed to both the European and Western Pacific Theaters.
He graduated from the National War College in Washington D.C. in June 2002 with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy and was assigned to Aviation Department, HQMC as Branch Head of the Aviation Plans, Programs, Doctrine, Joint Matters and Budget Branch. Upon completion of that tour, Lieutenant General Walsh returned to MCAS Beaufort as the Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 31 from June 2004 to May 2006. Following command, he returned to HQMC as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation.
In May 2008, Lieutenant General Walsh commanded 2d Marine Aircraft Wing and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom 09 as the Commanding General of the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). In August 2010 he was appointed as the Director of Operations, United States Northern Command. In June 2012 he assumed the duties as Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.
In July 2013, Lieutenant General Walsh was appointed as the Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division for the Chief of Naval Operations. In August 2015, Lieutenant General Walsh assumed his current responsibilities as Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; Commander, Marine Corps Forces Strategic Command and Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration