Region 2 - LtCol. G. JOHN DAVID, USMC, USMC
LtCol John David is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Bowdoin College with a Bachelors Degree in Physics and Government and Legal Studies. Upon graduation, he spent two years travelling East around the world and then working as a staff intern in the United States Senate before completing Officer Candidates Course and being commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1994. Following The Basic School, Communications Officer Course, and Cryptologic Division Officer Course, he was assigned to 1st Radio Battalion at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
He deployed repeatedly from 1st Radio Battalion, serving as officer-in-charge (OIC) of two detachments including the Radio Battalion Contact Team III Marine Expeditionary Force and four different provisional platoons before serving as the Signals Intelligence Support Platoon Commander and Reconnaissance and Surveillance Coordinator for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 1997 and 8. Finally, he served as Commander, Company A, 1st Radio Battalion in 1999. From 1999, he served as Commander, Company E, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion in Misawa, Japan, serving also as Assistant Operations Officer to the Naval Security Group Activity, Misawa. In 2001, he moved to 3rd Intelligence Battalion in Okinawa, Japan as both the battalion S4 Logistics and S6 Communications officer before transferring to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2002 as the Assistant S2 Intelligence Officer during deployments to presence, contingency operations and two Joint Task Forces in the Western Pacific.
In 2005, he reported to the Joint Staff J2 and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) where he served as the Senior Operations Officer for the National Military Joint Intelligence Center within the National Military Command Center of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. He then moved to J2O Operations as a National Intelligence Support Team Leader for contingencies and deployed in 2006 and 7 to Operation Iraqi Freedom as a special mission advisor under a DIA program supporting the Department of State. Selected for Command and Staff, he attended Defense Language Institute via the Foreign Service Institute preparatory to the Spanish Escuela Superior de las Fuerzas Armadas in Madrid in 2008 and 9.
From 2009 through 2011, he was the G2 for 3d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), deploying in 2010 and 2011 to Operation Enduring Freedom under the International Joint Force – Afghanistan, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization command which merged the wing with the British Joint Helicopter Force Afghanistan operating in Regional Command Southwest; he served as the G2 Intelligence officer for this integrated staff. He was the deputy G2 of the Wing main element at the same time. Selected for command, he redeployed in 2011 and assumed command of Region 2, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, responsible for the Marines at all diplomatic posts in the Middle East and South Asia.
Region 2 - Steven M. Burkett, USMC
First Sergeant Steven M. Burkett, USMC
1stSgt Burkett was born on 1 April 1976 in Lindenwold, New Jersey. He graduated from Overbrook High School in 1994. He reported to Boot Camp at Paris Island, SC in November of 1994. He graduated Boot Camp and was meritoriously promoted to private first class. PFC Burkett was then assigned to Basic Supply School in the spring of 1995 at Camp Johnson, North Carolina. Upon graduating from Supply School, PFC Burkett reported for duty to Marine Air Support Squadron 1, Cherry Point, NC.
While assigned to MASS-1, PFC Burkett was assigned as the fiscal clerk. In the fall of 1995, he was promoted to lance corporal. In March of 1996, he was meritoriously promoted to corporal. Corporal Burkett requested and received orders for Marine Security Guard duty.
In May of 1997, Cpl Burkett reported to Marine Security Guard School in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, he was assigned to MSG Detachment Paris, France. While in Paris, he was promoted to sergeant and served as Sergeant of the Guard. Sgt Burkett was then assigned to MSG Detachment Ankara, Turkey. While in Turkey, he was assigned as Assistant Detachment Commander. Upon completion of his tour on MSG Duty, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.
In January of 2000, SSgt Burkett was assigned to Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany Georgia as the G3 Operations Chief. While in Albany, he also served as the chief instructor of the Corporals Leadership Course. He also attended the career course at Camp Lejeune, NC and graduated as a distinguished graduate. He then attended the Basic Parachutist Course at Fort Benning, GA. In 2002, SSgt Burkett was assigned as the SNCOIC of MMFAX-1, Repairable Issue Point. After completing his tour in Albany, SSgt Burkett was assigned orders to Kaneohe Bay, HI.
SSgt Burkett reported to the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Kaneohe, HI in August of 2003. He served as the supply chief, instructor and deputy director while at the staff academy. In January, 2004, SSgt Burkett was promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant. GySgt Burkett attended the Advanced Course at Quantico, VA and graduated as the Honor Graduate as well as the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Writing Award recipient. GySgt Burkett also graduated EWS phases I and II while serving at the staff academy. In 2005, he was named the Academy’s Instructor of the Year and was the winner of the Elihu Rose Award, which designates Marine Corps University’s most outstanding enlisted educator.
In March of 2006, GySgt Burkett was assigned to CSSG-3 at Kaneohe Bay, HI. He immediately volunteered for an IA billet with 9th Engineer Support Battalion in Okinawa, Japan. He deployed to OIF as the Headquarters and Service Company Gunnery Sergeant with 9th ESB. Upon returning to Hawaii in May of 2007, he deployed to Mongolia while serving on the Marine Enlisted Liaison Development Exchange Program. In December of 2007, GySgt Burkett returned to CSSG-3. While with CSSG-3, GySgt Burkett completed Command and Staff College at the College of Continuing Education.
In December of 2007, GySgt Burkett was selected for promotion to 1stSgt. He was assigned orders to 1/11 at Camp Pendleton, CA. 1stSgt Burkett reported for duty with Alpha Battery, 1/11 in May of 2008. While with Alpha Battery, he completed an 11th MEU deployment while attached to Battalion Landing Team 2/4.
1stSgt Burkett reported for his current assignment at Marine Corps Embassy Security Guard Region Two in June 2010.
1stSgt Burkett’s personal decorations include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with four Gold Stars; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars.