Col Greg Poland, USMC

Biography

A native of Burlington, Iowa, Colonel Poland was commissioned in 1994. He currently serves as Director of the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting.

Colonel Poland served twice as a company grade officer at 1st Tank Battalion in 29 Palms, California. As a Tank Company Commander with 1st Tank Battalion he deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM in 2003. He also served at 8th Tank Battalion in Tallahassee, Florida as Inspector-Instructor for Company C.

As a field grade officer, Colonel Poland served as the Ground Combat Department Head at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, Arizona. He was then assigned to 2d Tank Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he deployed to Ramadi, Iraq as an Advisor to the 7th Iraqi Army Division. He next served as Battalion Operations Officer, then Executive Officer at 2d Tank Battalion, followed by a deployment to Kabul, Afghanistan as Current Operations Officer with U.S. Forces Afghanistan. In 2010, Colonel Poland was assigned as Chief of Plans for Marine Corps Forces Central Command in Tampa, Florida. From 2012-2014, he served as Commanding Officer of 1st Tank Battalion in 29 Palms, California. Following battalion command, he was assigned as the CMC Fellow to the U.S. State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security (High Threat Programs) in Washington, DC.

From 2015-2017, Colonel Poland was assigned as Director of the Commandant’s Staff Group at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. Following this, he served one year as Chief of Operations for Combined Joint Task Force – Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Baghdad, Iraq. From 2018-2020, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group (MCTOG) in 29 Palms, California

Colonel Poland is a graduate of the University of Iowa, Amphibious Warfare School (non-resident), Armor Captains Career Course, Command and Staff College (non-resident), School of Advanced Warfighting, and the Joint Forces Staff College. In 2016, he was designated a Joint Qualified Officer (JQO).

Colonel Poland's personal decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (with Gold Star in lieu of 2nd award and Combat Distinguishing Device), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of 2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Gold Stars in lieu of 4th award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, NATO/ISAF Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. Colonel Poland is married to Kimberly Sonntag of San Clemente, CA.