Battlefield Fallujah Warriors: Lieutenant General John Sattler, USMC

Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF)

Episode 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12
Interviewer: Lieutenant Colonel John Way | Camp Pendleton, CA - April 8, 2005
Interviewer: Bret Bair | Camp Fallujah, Iraq - November 2004
Courtesy of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Marine Corps History Division

Lieutenant General John F. Sattler (retired 2008) was the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff He was also concurrently the United States' representative to the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations.

Lieutenant General Sattler received his commission in June 1971, following graduation from the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.

In February 1972, after completing The Basic School, he was transferred to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines in Okinawa where he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander.

Returning to the United States in 1973, he was assigned to the Reserve Division at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps where he served until his reassignment to Amphibious Warfare School as a student in 1976. Graduating with honors in 1977, he was assigned to The Basic School where he served as a Tactics Instructor, Staff Platoon Commander (SPC), and an Infantry Officer Course Instructor. Following his tour at Quantico, Lieutenant General Sattler returned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines on Okinawa for duty as Battalion Operations Officer. Upon return to the United States in 1981, he served as Infantry Weapons Procurement Officer at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps until 1985.He graduated with honors from Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 1986, and reported to 2d Marine Division for his third tour with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, this time as the Executive Officer.

In 1988, Lieutenant General Sattler was assigned as Commander, Ground Combat Element for Special Purpose MAGTF 4-88. After serving as J-3, Ground Officer for Joint Operation Solid Shield, he spent one year at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps before being assigned to the Industrial College of Armed Forces (ICAF) at the National Defense University, Washington, D.C. He graduated with distinction in June 1991 and reported for duty as Congressional Liaison Officer to the U.S. House of Representatives. He detached from this assignment in August 1995, and took command of 2nd Marine Regiment on August 12, 1995. He was promoted to Brigadier General at his change of command on May 29, 1997 and assumed his duties as Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Marine Division that same day.

In September 1998 he reported to the Joint Staff and assumed duties as the Deputy Director for Operations (Combating Terrorism) J-34. In July of 2000 he transferred to Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps to assume the duties as the Director, Public Affairs Division. In July of 2001 he assumed duties as the Commanding General of 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC. In November 2002, he assumed duties as Commander, Coalition Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. In August of 2003, he assumed duties as Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command. Lieutenant General Sattler was promoted to his current rank and assumed command of I Marine Expeditionary Force on 12 September 2004.

Lieutenant General Sattler's personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

Source: U.S. Marine Corps History Division

Learn More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Sattler