Battlefield Fallujah Warriors: Brigadier General Dennis Hejlik, USMC

Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force

Episode 2, 3, 12
Interviewer: Lieutenant Colonel John Way
Camp Fallujah, Iraq - January 5, 2005
Courtesy of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Marine Corps History Division

Lieutenant Gen. Hejlik (retired 2012) served as Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from July 2008 until August 2010. Prior to that Brigadier General Hejlik was the Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Hejlik enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1968, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1972. He graduated from Mankato State University in 1975, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Class Program.

Upon completion of The Basic School in December 1975, 2nd Lieutenant Hejlik reported to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, where he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander, assistant operations officer, Commanding Officer, Company E, and regimental assistant operations officer. In July 1978, First Lieutenant Hejlik transferred to the 3rd Marine Division where he served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General. In May 1983, he was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines where he served as Commanding Officer, Weapons Company, and later as the battalion Logistics Officer (S-4). During Operation Desert Storm he served with the G-3, I MEF. In June 1993, he transferred to the 2nd Marine Division and served as the G-1A until assuming command of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines in November 1993 and in 1996 served as the Executive Officer of the 2d Marine Regiment. In July 1997, he assumed command of Marine Barracks, Washington, DC. In July of 2004, he assumed command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Camp Pendleton, CA.

In July of 1979, 1st Lieutenant Hejlik reported to Marine Barracks, Yorktown, VA where he served as a platoon commander and guard officer. Subsequently, Captain Hejlik attended the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia. In May 1986, Major Hejlik was transferred to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, as a Tactics Instructor at Amphibious Warfare School. From 1989 to 1990, he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. Following graduation, he transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, for duty with the Enlisted Assignment Section, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. From 1992 to 1993, Lieutenant Colonel Hejlik attended the Naval War College where he received a Masters of Science Degree in National Security Strategy. In January 1996, he transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps for assignment as the Senior Military Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations. He was assigned as the Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in July 1999. Beginning in 2001 he served as the Principal Director for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism in SOLIC/OSD. In October of 2002, he transferred to U.S. Special Operations Command, for duties as Chief of Staff and Director of the Center for Command Support. In August 2003, he was reassigned as Director, Center for Policy, Training and Readiness, U.S. Special Operations Command.

Hejlik's personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal with Gold Star, Legion of Merit with Gold Star, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and the Leftwich Award.

Source: U.S. Marine Corps History Division

Learn More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Hejlik