LtGen Dave Beydler, USMC (ret.)
Upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, Lieutenant General Beydler was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps and trained as a Naval Aviator.
He is a graduate of Navy Fighter Weapons School, the Marine Aviation and Weapons Tactics Squadron One, Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, and the Strike Leader Attack Training Syllabus. He has commanded at the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, Marine Aircraft Group, Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Forces Command and Joint Force Command levels.
Later in his career, Lieutenant General Beydler commanded the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan from July 2010 to June 2012. From July 2014 through October 2015, Lieutenant General Beydler commanded II Marine Expeditionary Force and United States Marine Corps Forces Africa in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In October 2015, Lieutenant General Beydler took command of United States Marine Corps Forces, Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Lieutenant General Beydler was placed on the Retired List on 1 September, 2018 at the completion of over 37 years active duty.
Lieutenant General Beydler has accumulated approximately 4000 flight hours in tactical jet aircraft, beginning with the F-4S Phantom, and finishing with over 3000 hours in the F/A-18.
His personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with three Gold Stars, the Air Medal-Strike Flight, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one Gold Star.
Lieutenant General Beydler is married to the former Kimberly Stevens, the daughter of a career Navy Officer. They have two children, both Marines, Captain Shannon Hillery, a Judge Advocate, and Captain Robert Beydler, a recently winged Naval Aviator, currently training in the F/A-18.
