LtGen Richard Natonski, USMC (ret.) Joins JINSA as Gemunder Center Distinguished Fellow

Washington, D.C. – The Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) today announced that Lieutenant General Richard Natonski, USMC (ret.) has joined the organization to serve as a Distinguished Fellow of its Gemunder Center for Defense & Strategy. The Gemunder Center performs innovative research and advocacy on vital U.S. defense, strategic and national security issues.

LtGen Natonski is a member of JINSA’s Board of Advisors, and has served on JINSA’s 2014 Gaza Task Force and currently on JINSA’s Hybrid Warfare Task Force.

JINSA President & CEO Dr. Michael Makovsky said, “We are honored and thrilled to have General Natonski join JINSA in a more formal role. He’s a highly decorated American military hero, who has dedicated decades to U.S. national security and is expert on a range of issues. He’s already been involved with and led a range of policy work with JINSA, and he’s also terrific to work with. JINSA will benefit greatly from his deeper involvement.”

General Natonski is a native of New Canaan, CT, he graduated from the University of Louisville in 1973, and was commissioned as a Marine Second Lieutenant. During his illustrious military career LtGen Natonski served as a Platoon Commander in the evacuations of citizens from Phnom Penh and Saigon in 1975. He attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

LtGen Natonski was an Observer to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East. During this tour the UN Peacekeepers were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1988. He was present in the Pentagon on 9/11.

As a BGen, Natonski assumed command of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. During the invasion of Iraq, 2nd MEB was redesignated as Task Force Tarawa. They participated in the Battle of An Nasiriyah and supported the subsequent rescue of Jessica Lynch. MajGen Natonski assumed command of the 1st Marine Division. While in Iraq, he led the ground assault during the second Battle of Fallujah and ran security operations in the Al Anbar Province during the Iraqi National Elections in January 2005. LtGen. Natonski, was assigned as the Deputy Commandant, for PP&O and in August 2008, he assumed command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command. On Sept. 8, 2010, he retired from the Marine Corps after more than 37 years of service.

Since retiring from the Armed Forces, he has served as a Senior Mentor for the Marine Corps, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses, an Adjunct Professor for John Hopkins University and the United States Strategic Leadership Center, a Defense Consultant, a member of the Board of Governors for Ave Maria School of Law and on the Advisory Board at JINSA.