Robert B. Neller

Background

Robert Blake Neller was born on February 9, 1953, at Camp Polk, Louisiana, and grew up in East Lansing, Michigan. He graduated from East Lansing High School in 1971 and entered the University of Virginia, where he studied history and speech communication.

Neller's early life coincided with the Vietnam-era expansion of American military service and with the continuing prominence of the Marine Corps in national defense. His father had served in the Second World War, and Neller later pursued a military career after completing his university education.

Education

Neller graduated from East Lansing High School in 1971. He then attended the University of Virginia, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and speech communication in 1975. Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia was established around Thomas Jefferson's educational model and combined liberal education with preparation for public and professional life.

Neller subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree in human resource management from Pepperdine University. He also completed The Basic School, the Advanced Armor Officer Course, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the NATO Defense College, and the Armed Forces Staff College. These military institutions provided successive stages of professional formation in leadership, operational planning, staff work, and multinational defense cooperation.

Career

Neller received his commission in the United States Marine Corps in May 1975 through the Platoon Leaders Class program and began a four-decade career as an infantry officer. His early assignments included platoon and company command with the 3rd Marine Division and command of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. He later served as a recruit series officer, aide-de-camp, special-training director at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, student company executive officer and tactics instructor at The Basic School, and staff officer in Headquarters Marine Corps and at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Casteau, Belgium.

Neller commanded Marine Corps Security Force Company Panama during Operations Just Cause and Promote Liberty and commanded 3d Light Armored Infantry Battalion during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. He also served as executive officer of the 7th Marine Regiment, G-3 of the 2d Marine Division, G-3 of II Marine Expeditionary Force, and commanding officer of the 6th Marine Regiment. These assignments combined unit leadership with operational and staff responsibilities in the Marine Corps' expeditionary force structure.

As a general officer, Neller served as assistant division commander of the 1st and 2d Marine Divisions, director of the Operations Division in the Plans, Policies and Operations Directorate at Headquarters Marine Corps, and deputy commanding general for operations of I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) during Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2006 to February 2007. He commanded the 3d Marine Division from 2007 to 2009 and became president of Marine Corps University and commanding general of Education Command in September 2009. Marine Corps University, based at Quantico, Virginia, is the professional military education institution of the Marine Corps.

From January 2011 to July 2012, Neller served as director of operations, J-3, on the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. He then commanded Marine Corps Forces Central Command from September 2012 to June 2014 and Marine Corps Forces Command from June 2014 to September 2015. The two commands linked Marine Corps operations with the broader United States Central Command area of responsibility and with the preparation of forces for deployment.

Neller became the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps on September 24, 2015, succeeding Joseph F. Dunford, and served until July 11, 2019, when David H. Berger succeeded him. As commandant, he was the senior officer of the Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired from active duty in 2019 after approximately forty-four years of military service.

After retirement, Neller became a professor of practice at the University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies and worked in consulting, teaching, and public speaking. His post-military work has included public-safety training and advocacy for the use of virtual-reality simulation in law-enforcement training.

Achievements

• Commanded Marine Corps forces during Operations Just Cause and Promote Liberty in Panama and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

• Served as deputy commanding general for operations of I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in Anbar Province during Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2006 to February 2007.

• Commanded the 3d Marine Division and later led Marine Corps University as its president and commanding general of Education Command.

• Served as the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps from September 24, 2015, to July 11, 2019.

Views

Neller's public leadership emphasizes preparedness, professional competence, and the responsibility of commanders to develop and care for their personnel. His statements as commandant connected military readiness with training, modernization, ethical leadership, and the ability to adapt to changing forms of conflict.

Membership

Neller has been a member of Theta Chi International Fraternity, a college fraternity founded in 1856 that maintains chapters and alumni networks in the United States. After retiring from the Marine Corps, he also served as chairman of the board of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships and educational support to children of Marines.

• Member

  Theta Chi International Fraternity , United States

• Chairman of the board

  Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation , United States

Personality

Neller has been publicly described by senior military leaders as a leader who showed strong concern for Marines and their welfare. His public remarks and professional work have emphasized readiness, training, leadership, and responsibility to service members.

Quotes from others about the person

• At the 2015 change-of-command ceremony, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter praised Neller's leadership and described his evident affection for the Marines under his command.

Interests

• Public safety, military education, leadership development, and virtual-reality training.

Connections

Neller is married to Darcy Neller. They have three children, Kurt, Brett, and Claire, and at least one grandchild has been publicly identified.

Wife:

Darcy Neller

Son:

Kurt Neller

Son:

Brett Neller

Daughter:

Claire Neller

References

• General Robert B. Neller Marine Corps University biography documenting Neller's command assignments, military education, operational service, and role as Commandant of the Marine Corps.
• Biography of General Robert B. Neller Senate Armed Services Committee biography describing Neller's education, command assignments, joint service, and appointment as Commandant of the Marine Corps.
  2016
• Robert B. Neller University of Virginia profile documenting Neller's post-retirement work as a professor of practice, consultant, and public-safety educator.
• Robert Neller Oral History Collection Entry Marine Corps oral-history catalog documenting an interview with Neller concerning his commandant tenure, military operations, modernization, and Marine Corps policy.
  2018