Steven R. Rudder

Steven R. Rudder is a decorated U.S. Marine lieutenant general and Naval Aviator. Rudder previously served as Deputy Commandant for Aviation, USMC and Commanding General, United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.

Steven R. Rudder
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1984–present
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	1st Marine Air Wing United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit

Marine Corps career

Rudder was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant in 1984. He graduated from The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico and his first assignment was to 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion. He received a transfer to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. He was designated a Naval Aviator in 1987. His operational assignments include AH-1 Cobra helicopter training with HMT-303 followed by service with HMLA-367 as Maintenance Officer and Tactics Instructor.[1]

His staff and command assignments include HMM-161; Weapons and Tactics Officer deploying with the 11th MEU(SOC); AH-1 Division Head, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One; Operations Officer, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167; Future Operations Officer HMM-261 deploying with the 22nd MEU; Military Assistant to Andrew Marshall, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon; Squadron Commander, HML/A-167; Senior Watch Officer, 3rd Marine Air Wing; J5 Lead planner for Afghanistan and Pakistan, USCENTCOM, Tampa, FL; Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 26 deploying to Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Branch Head of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation; student, United States Army War College; Legislative Assistant to the Commandant, Office of Legislative Affairs, HQMC; Commanding General, 1st Marine Air Wing in Okinawa, Japan; Director of Strategic Planning and Policy, United States Pacific Command; Deputy Commandant for Aviation from July 2017 to July 2020; and Commanding General, United States Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.[2]

Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit with gold award star Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" Device Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with gold award star Air Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V" Device and gold award star Joint Service Achievement Medal Navy Achievement Medal U.S. Unit Awards Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze campaign stars U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with three bronze campaign stars Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze campaign star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze service star Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi_Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

U.S. badges, patches and tabs Naval Aviator Insignia Rifle Expert Badge Pistol Expert Badge Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

References

1. "Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder". Retrieved 2018-06-06.
2. "Lieutenant General Steven R. Rudder Commander U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific". Retrieved 2020-09-01.