Charles C. Krulak

Charles C. Krulak
31st Commandant of the Marine Corps (1995–1999)
Born	March 4, 1942 (1942-03-04) (age 69) Quantico, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1963-1999
Rank	General
Commands held	3rd Battalion 3rd Marines 2nd Force Service Support Group Marine Forces Pacific MCCDC Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Bronze Star (3) Purple Heart (2)
Relations	Victor H. Krulak, father

General Charles Chandler Krulak (born March 4, 1942) served as the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1999. He is the son of Lieutenant General Victor H. "Brute" Krulak, USMC, who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He is currently President of Birmingham-Southern College after his stint as a non-executive director of English association football club Aston Villa.

Early years; education

Charles Chandler Krulak was born in 1942 in Quantico, Virginia.^[1] After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, Krulak attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1964 with a bachelor's degree. Krulak also holds a master's degree in labor relations from George Washington University (1973). He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School (1968); the Army Command and General Staff College (1976); and the National War College (1982).

Marine Corps career

After his commissioning and graduation from The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Krulak held a variety of command and staff positions. His command positions included: commanding officer of a platoon and two rifle companies during two tours of duty in Vietnam; commanding officer of Special Training Branch and Recruit Series at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California (1966–1968); commanding officer of Counter-Guerilla Warfare School, Northern Training Area on Okinawa (1970), Company officer at the United States Naval Academy (1970–1973); commanding officer of the Marine Barracks at Naval Air Station North Island, California (1973–1976), and Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines (1983–1985).

Krulak's staff assignments included: operations officer, 2nd Battalion 9th Marines (1977–1978); chief of the Combat Arms Monitor Section at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. (1978–1979); executive sssistant to the Director of Personnel Management, Headquarters Marine Corps (1979–1981); Plans Office, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii (1982–1983); executive officer, 3rd Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; assistant chief of staff, maritime pre-positioning ships, 1st MEB; assistant chief of staff for operations, 1st MEB; and the military assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for command, control, communications and intelligence, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

He was assigned duty as the deputy director of the White House Military Office in September 1987. While serving in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to brigadier general in November 1988. He was advanced to that grade on June 5, 1989, and assigned duties as the commanding general, 10th MEB/Assistant division commander, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on July 10, 1989. On June 1, 1990, he assumed duties as the commanding general, 2nd Force Service Support Group Group/Commanding General, 6th MEB, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic and commanded the 2d FSSG during the Gulf War. He served in this capacity until July 12, 1991, and was assigned duty as assistant deputy chief of staff for manpower and reserve affairs (personnel Management/Personnel Procurement), Headquarters Marine Corps on August 5, 1991. He was advanced to major general on March 20, 1992. General Krulak was assigned as commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, on August 24, 1992, and was promoted to lieutenant general on September 1, 1992. On July 22, 1994, he was assigned as commander of Marine Forces Pacific/Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, and in March 1995 he was nominated to serve as the commandant of the Marine Corps. On June, 29, he was promoted to general and assumed duties as the 31st commandant on June 30, 1995. He was relieved on June 30, 1999, by General James L. Jones.

General Krulak attracted some attention during his tenure as commandant by his custom of delivering Christmas cookies to each marine duty post in the Washington area.^[2]

Post-Marine Corps career

General Krulak joined MBNA America in September 1999 as chief administrative officer, responsible for personnel, benefits, compensation, education, and other administrative services. Krulak has served as the Senior Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MBNA Europe (2001–2005) and was based at the Chester campus in the UK. He was the executive vice chairman and chief administration officer of MBNA Corporation (2004–2005). He retired from MBNA in 2005.

Following the takeover of English football club Aston Villa by MBNA Chairman Randy Lerner in August 2006 and as of September 19, 2006, General Krulak joined the board of Aston Villa as non-executive director, where he quickly earned the approval of the fans by taking the time to post on various Aston Villa messageboards. Krulak is generally referred to as "The General" by fans on these boards.

Krulak also serves on the boards of ConocoPhillips, Freeport-McMoran (formerly known as Phelps Dodge Corporation) and Union Pacific Corporation.^[3][4][5]. Additionally, General Krulak serves on the Advisory Council of Hope For The Warriors, a national non-profit dedicated to provide a full cycle of non-medical care to combat wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen from each military branch.^[6]

General Charles C. Krulak was elected as the 13th President of Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama on March 21, 2011.

Decorations and medals

General Krulak's decorations and medals include:

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star	Bronze Star w/ valor device & 2 award stars	Purple Heart with gold star	Meritorious Service Medal
Navy Commendation Medal	Combat Action Ribbon	Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star	National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 6 service stars	Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 3 service stars	Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 service stars	Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm, silver star, & bronze star
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation	Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation	Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal	Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Presidential Service Badge	Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge	Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Legacy

General Krulak famously referred to the Strategic Corporal and the Three Block War as two of the key lessons identified from the deployments in Somalia, Haiti and Bosnia. These concepts are still considered vital in understanding the increasing complexity of modern battlefields.

General Krulak explained some of his warfighting philosophy in an interview with Tom Clancy in Clancy's nonfiction book Marine. Clancy referred to General Krulak as "Warrior Prince of the Corps".

General Krulak also rewrote the Marine Corps' basic combat study text, MCDP-1: Warfighting, incorporating his theories on operations in the modern battlefield.

As Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Krulak had a habit of always taking a few minutes when visiting Marine units to mingle with the junior ranking enlisted Marines, earning him much respect and popularity, but much to the chagrin of his bodyguards who were always supposed to be within an arm's distance of the Commandant.

Family

General Krulak is married to Zandi Meyers from Annapolis. They have two sons, David and Todd. He is the son of LtGen Victor H. Krulak, Sr., and the younger brother of Commander Victor H. Krulak Jr, Navy Chaplain Corps and Colonel William Krulak, USMCR.^[7] General Krulak stated in an interview that his godfather was Holland M. "Howling Mad" Smith.

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Marine Corps portal

• Commandant of the Marine Corps

Notes

1. ^ NNDB Name Mapper
2. ^ http://www.stripes.com/blogs/the-rumor-doctor/the-rumor-doctor-1.104348/did-gen-mattis-pull-duty-on-christmas-so-a-marine-could-be-with-his-family-1.134995
3. ^ "Charles C. Krulak". ConocoPhilips. Archived from the original on 2006-05-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20060521100726/http://www.conocophillips.com/about/Corporate+Governance/Board+of+Directors/Charles+C.+Krulak.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-19. 
4. ^ "Phelps Dodge Elects Charles C. Krulak to Board of Directors". Phelps Dodge. December 7, 2005. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=95336&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=793959&highlight=. Retrieved 2006-09-19. 
5. ^ "General Charles C. Krulak Elected to Board of Directors of Union Pacific Corporation". Union Pacific. January 26, 2006. http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/financial/2006/0126_krulak.shtml. Retrieved 2006-09-19. 
6. ^ Board of Directors, Hope for the Warriors, http://hopeforthewarriors.org/bod.html, retrieved 2011-11-04 
7. ^ Coram, Robert (2010). Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak, U.S. Marine. Little, Brown & Co.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

• "General Charles C. Krulak, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Krulak_CC.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-29. 

External links

• Krulak, Charles C. and Joseph P. Hoar (2007-05-17). "It's Our Cage, Too" Torture Betrays Us and Breeds New Enemies". Washington Post: p. A17. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/16/AR2007051602395.html. Retrieved 2007-12-10.  Editorial on the use of torture.

• Krulak, General Charles C. (USMC Commandant of the Marine Corps) (1998-05-16). ""Legacy of Valor: FMF Corpsmen and Medical Personnel", Commencement Remarks for the Uniformed Services University at the DAR Constitution Hall". http://www.marzone.com/corpsman/RF-5.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-10. 

• Krulak, Gen. Charles C. (January 1999). "The Strategic Corporal: Leadership in the Three Block War". Marines Magazine. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmc/strategic_corporal.htm. 
• Interview on April 2007 Discusses about leadership
• Works by or about Charles C. Krulak in libraries (WorldCat catalog)

Military offices
Preceded by Gen. Carl E. Mundy, Jr.	Commandant of the United States Marine Corps 1995–1999	Succeeded by Gen. James L. Jones

Persondata
Name	Krulak, Charles C.
Alternative names
Short description	31st Commandant of the Marine Corps
Date of birth	March 4, 1942
Place of birth	Quantico, Virginia
Date of death
Place of death