Daniel Yoo (military officer)

Daniel Daejin Yoo[2] is a U.S. Marine Major General and former commander of United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.[3][4] He is the first Korean-American general in the United States Marine Corps.[5][6]

Daniel D. Yoo
Born	July 4, 1962[1] Seoul[1]
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1985–2020
Rank	Major General
Commands held	United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command 4th Marine Regiment

Education

He graduated from Arizona State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice Studies.[3][7][8] He is a graduate of the Naval War College, Army Ranger School and United States Army Airborne School.

Military career

Yoo was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant in 1985 following completion of Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation from The Basic School and the Infantry Officers Course, Yoo reported to the 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton in 1986. He served with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines as a rifle platoon commander, heavy machine gun platoon commander, weapons company executive officer and a rifle company commander.[9] In 1989, Yoo received assignment to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan. During this tour, he served as a Reconnaissance Platoon Commander and a Reconnaissance Company Commander. From 1992 to 1995 Yoo served as Inspector-Instructor, Detachment, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, in Reno, Nevada followed by service Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC from 1995 to 1998. In July 1998, Yoo attended the Naval Command and Staff College, Naval War College earning a Masters of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies in 1999. In August 1999, he was assigned duty with the Current Operations Division, G3, II Marine Expeditionary Force and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Camp Lejeune. From March 2001 to 2002 Yoo was assigned as Operations Officer, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) followed by command of Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry (East) from July 2002 to June 2004. He next was assigned to Director of Operations, J-3, Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, Washington, DC before commanding the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division from 2008 to 2010. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Commander, Regional Corps Advisory Command Central 3-7, 201st Corps, Afghan National Army from July 2009 to April 2010. As a Brigadier General, Yoo was commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). He commanded the Marine Corps presence of 7,000 personnel in Helmand, southwest Afghanistan, in 2014, leading the International Security Assistance Force's Regional Command Southwest and Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan.[10] It was the final deployment of the MEP-Afghanistan. Yoo oversaw the handover of Helmand in October 2014 to Afghan National Army's 215th Corps, marking a transition in which the Marine Corps became a supporting force in the area rather than combat force.[11] As a Major General, Yoo assumed duties as commanding officer of United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command from June 2018 to 26 June 2020. Yoo relinquished command of MARSOC to Major General James F. Glynn.[12]

Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device and gold award star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with gold award star Joint Service Achievement Medal Navy Achievement Medal Combat Action Ribbon Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze service star U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Korea Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver and two bronze service stars

U.S. badges, patches and tabs Scuba Diver Badge Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia Rifle Expert Badge Pistol Expert Badge Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

References

1. "Ranking Marine Corps official leads delegation to Saipan". Saipan Tribune. December 2, 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
2. "Milestones". Reno Gazette-Journal. April 28, 1995. p. 25.
3. "Major General Daniel D. Yoo". Marines: The Official Website of the United States Marines. Archived from the original on 2020-05-29. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
4. Snow, Shawn (June 13, 2018). "Marine Raiders to get new commander". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
5. Casino, Khier (May 2017). "The First Korean-American General in the U.S. Marine Corps Just Got Even More Badass". NextShark. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
6. "USMC's first Korean-American general takes over Pacific SOCOM post". Hawaii News Now. May 12, 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
7. "Daniel D. Yoo". The Hall of Valor Project. Military Times. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
8. "Alumni Association honors military Sun Devils at Founders' Day event". Arizona State University. February 8, 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
9. "Marine Brigadier General Yoo". Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Defense.gov. May 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-10-15. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
10. Kovach, Gretel (19 July 2013). "Local general heading to Afghanistan". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
11. Stewart, Joshua (7 November 2014). "1-star has confidence in Afghan security after leaving Helmand". Military Times. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
12. Athey, Philip (June 27, 2020). "The special operations Marine Raiders have a new commander". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on 2020-10-16. Retrieved 16 October 2020.