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Biography
3rd Marine Division Leadership
Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Colonel Brandon H. Turner
2d Battalion, 3d Marines

LtCol Turner hails from Newton, NC where he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996 serving as a 0351 at Marine Barracks Washington D.C. As a Sergeant of Marines, LtCol Turner matriculated to the Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.) in 1999 and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelors of Arts in History. Upon graduation from V.M.I. and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, he attended The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course at Quantico, VA.

LtCol Turner served as a platoon commander in 1st Battalion, 8th Marines where he deployed to Iraq in 2004-2005 and served as a part of Operation AL FAJA, the clearance of Fallujah in November of 2004. Following 1/8’s deployment, LtCol Turner redeployed as a part of a collation force conducting multi-lateral training and engagements throughout West Africa. Following West Africa, LtCol Turner deployed with BLT-1/8 (26th MEU), participating in the non-combatant evacuation operation of Lebanon in 2006. Following his tour with 1/8, and as a Captain, LtCol Turner served as a platoon commander with 3rd Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Company and conducted deployments to Guantanamo Bay Cuba and the Pacific in support of U.S. naval fleet operations.

After attending the Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) as a student, then Captain Turner took command of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion 6th Marines in the spring of 2010 and deployed to Marjah, Afghanistan.  Following this deployment, he redeployed with 1st Battalion 6th Marines in 2011 as their operations officer to Sangin and Kajaki, Afghanistan. Following his second deployment to Afghanistan, LtCol Turner served for one year with Advanced Infantry Training Battalion as the company commander for the Advanced Infantry Training Company.

In the summer of 2013, LtCol Turner reported to the Expeditionary Warfare School where he was assigned as a faculty advisor and instructor for amphibious operations.  From 2016 to 2018, LtCol Turner served as a student at the Marine Corps University’s Command and Staff College and the School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW) earning master’s degrees from both schools.  Following SAW, LtCol Turner reported to Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command where he served as the G-5 Plans Officer.  Currently, LtCol Turner is the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines.

LtCol Turner holds an undergraduate degree in History, and graduate degrees in both Operational and Military Studies.

His personal decorations include two Bronze Stars with V, two Meritorious Service Medals, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with V, two Navy-Marine Corps achievement medals, two combat action ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Basic Parachutist Badge.