Brian P. Sharp serves as the Director, Marine Corps War College, Quantico VA.
A native of Westwood, New Jersey, Colonel Sharp enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at the age of 18. After graduating from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 1995, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.
During his more than three decades in uniform, Colonel Sharp commanded Marines at the platoon, battery, and O5 level. He was the Fire Support Officer for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s seizure of FOB Rhino in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terror attack in 2001, led an artillery battery during the initial attack and subsequent stability operations in Iraq in 2003, and future operations planner for Regional Command South West during the Afghanistan surge in 2010 - 2011.
During his non-combat assignments, Colonel Sharp served as the Deputy Director of the Marine Corps Liaison to the House of Representatives; Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations; and the Secretary of the General Staff for the Director, Marine Corps Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps.
During his joint staff tour at US Central Command, Colonel Sharp served on the Commanders Action Group and as the Chief of Plans, J3 Directorate. In this role, he planned numerous military operations involving soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Marines, and allied forces across the Middle East.