BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH V. MEDINA
COMMANDING GENERAL 3D MARINE EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE DEPUTY COMMANDING GENERAL III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE OKINAWA, JAPAN Brigadier General Joseph V. Medina is currently the Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Brigadier General Medina received his commission in 1976, following graduation from the United States Naval Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Physics) and a Master of Science (Systems Management) from the University of Southern California. His military education also includes Amphibious Warfare School (Honor Graduate, 1985), Marine Corps Command and Staff College (Distinguished Graduate, 1992), and NATO Defense College (1998). His early command assignments were Platoon Commander, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines; Headquarters Company Commander, 5th Marines; Company Commander, Company F, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines; Company Commander, Company F, 2d Battalion, 4th Marines; Company Commander, Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines; and commander of two Basic School (TBS) companies. Brigadier General Medina’s early staff assignments include Executive Officer, Recruiting Station Seattle, Washington; Battalion S-3/Operations Officer, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Officer Instructor/Associate Professor of Naval Science, Pennsylvania State University; and Chief Instructor, TBS. In May 1995, he assumed command of 3d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, the Betio Battalion. During this tour, the battalion deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of JTF-160 for Operation Sea Signal in 1995, and to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program in 1996. Upon relinquishment of his command in February 1997, he was reassigned as Executive Officer, 2d Marines. In February 1998, he was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. European Command, where he served as Contingency Plans Branch Chief and upon promotion to Colonel, as the Chief, Operational Plans Division (J35), Operations Directorate. With the onset of the Kosovo Crisis, he simultaneously served as Chief, Kosovo
Plans Group for Operations Noble Anvil/Allied Force and Joint Guardian. He was transferred to Marine Corps Recruiting Command at Quantico, Virginia in January 2000 as the G-3, Recruiting Operations and Plans. He assumed command of the 3d Marine Regiment in June 2001 and served as Commander, SPMAGTF-3 for four HCAXs and RIMPAC-02 during this period. Upon selection to Brigadier General, he assumed command of the newly established Expeditionary Strike Group Three (ESG-3), homeported in San Diego as part of U.S. Third Fleet. Brigadier General Medina led ESG-3/Belleau Wood Strike Group (BWDESG) during a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was also assigned as Commander, Task Force 58. Over the course of this deployment, CTF-58 conducted over 550 ship boardings, 50 coastal patrol and interdiction missions, and 50 armed helo reconnaissance missions in the North Arabian Gulf and Iraqi Territorial Waters. Concurrently, CTF-58 directed forces in support of seven coalition operations ashore in combination with Multi National Division Southeast in order to detect, identify, and disrupt international terrorist organizations and foreign fighters. Midway through this deployment, Brigadier General Medina and his staff shifted flagship to the USS Essex (LHD 2) while continuing operations as CTF-58 in support of OIF. On July 8, 2005, Brigadier General Medina assumed duties as Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp S.D. Butler. He served in that capacity until assuming his current position in September 2006. Additionally, he serves as Commander, Task Force 79 (CTF-79) for Commander, Seventh Fleet. Brigadier General Medina’s personal decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars.