Michael William Hagee (born December 1, 1944) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2006, succeeding General James L. Jones on January 13, 2003. He stepped down as Commandant two months before the end of his four-year term, and was succeeded by General James T. Conway on November 13, 2006.[1] On that date, Hagee had his retirement ceremony just prior to the passage of command ceremony.[2] Hagee retired from the Marine Corps on January 1, 2007.[3]

Michael Hagee
General Michael W. Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps (2003–2006)
Born (1944-12-01) December 1, 1944 (age 80)
Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1968–2007
RankGeneral
CommandsCommandant of the Marine Corps
1st Marine Expeditionary Force
1st Marine Division
1st Marine Division
11th Marine Expeditionary Unit
1st Battalion 8th Marines
Battles / warsVietnam War
Gulf War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal
National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal

Biography

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Early life and education

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Hagee was born in Hampton, Virginia, on December 1, 1944[4] and raised in Fredericksburg, Texas.[5] He graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering[6] and was a classmate of Oliver North, Charles Bolden, Jim Webb, and Michael Mullen. He also holds a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the United States Naval War College. In 2004, he was honored with the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award.

Personal life

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His father, Robert L. Hagee, served as a United States Navy pilot in World War II and, in the summer of 2009, was awarded a plaque at the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site, now known as the National Museum of the Pacific War (formerly Nimitz Museum) in Fredericksburg, Texas. He and his wife Silke, daughter of the German Air Force brigadier general Werner Boie,[7] have two children.

Hagee is the President and CEO of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation.[8] He has previously sat on the Board of Advisors for Cobam and Silicon Graphics.[9]

Military career

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Platoon Commander, Company A, 1st Battalion 9th Marines 1970
Commanding Officer, Company A and H&S Company, 1st Battalion 1st Marines 1970–1971
Communications-Electronics Officer, Marine Air Command and Control Squadron 1 1971
Assistant Director, Telecommunications School 1972–1974
Commanding Officer, Waikele-West Loch Guard Company 1974–1976
Commanding Officer, Pearl Harbor Guard Company 1976–1977
Training Officer, 3rd Marine Division 1977–1978
Electrical Engineering Instructor, United States Naval Academy 1978–1981
Head, Officer Plans Section, Headquarters Marine Corps 1982–1986
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, 2nd Marine Division 1987–1988
Executive Officer, 8th Marine Regiment 1988
Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion 8th Marines 1988–1990
Director Humanities and Social Science Division/Marine Corps Representative, United States Naval Academy 1990–1992
Commanding Officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit 1992–1993
Liaison Officer to the U.S. Special Envoy to Somalia 1992–1993
Executive Assistant to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps 1993–1994
Director, Character Development Division, United States Naval Academy 1994–1995
Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense 1995–1996
Executive Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence 1995–1996
Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters, United States European Command 1996–1998
Commanding General, 1st Marine Division 1998–1999
Director Strategic Plans and Policy, United States Pacific Command 1999–2000
Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force 2000–2002
Commandant of the Marine Corps 2003–2006

Awards and decorations

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1st Row Defense Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit with two award stars Bronze Star with valor device
2nd Row Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal with one award star Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one award star Combat Action Ribbon
3rd Row Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters Meritorious Unit Commendation with one service star National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal National Defense Service Medal with two service stars
4th Row Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars Southwest Asia Service Medal with one service star Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
5th Row Humanitarian Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two service stars Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with one service star French Legion of Honor, Commander
6th Row Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation Vietnam Campaign Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jeff Schogol (November 13, 2006). "Conway becomes Marine Corps Commandant". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
  2. ^ Cpl Aaron K. Clark (November 13, 2006). "Hagee retires, Conway appointed 34th commandant". Marine Corps News. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on November 15, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
  3. ^ "Col M W Hagee". www.11thmeu.marines.mil. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  4. ^ United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services (January 2003). Nominations before the Senate Armed Services Committee, second session, 107th Congress: hearings before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session, on nominations of Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, USN; Lt. Gen, Leon J. LaPorte, USA; Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF ... April 26, June 20, July 26, September 27, 2002. U.S. G.P.O. ISBN 9780160695216.
  5. ^ "General Michael W. Hagee | Veterans Advantage – Military Discounts, Veteran Discounts, Benefits". veteransadvantage.com. September 17, 2003. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  6. ^ "GENERAL MICHAEL W. HAGEE, USMC (RETIRED)". www.usmcu.edu. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "Silke Hagee helps families cope with deployments". Stars and Stripes. March 4, 2003.
  8. ^ "Management & Departments". National Museum of the Pacific War. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "Cobham plc - AGM Statement and Trading Update". otp.investis.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

References

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This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
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Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Marine Corps
2003–2006
Succeeded by