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James E. Donnellan

Associate Professor Joint Military Operations Department
Col., U.S. Marine Corps, Retired
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Biography

Professor Donnellan served for 30 years as a Marine Corps officer with command assignments at the platoon, company, infantry battalion and training installation level. His assignments as a Colonel included Command of the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center and service at combatant command and service component levels. He commanded 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines on combat deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq. Prior to joining Joint Military Operations, Professor Donnellan was a member of the faculty in the College of Maritime Operational Warfare, where he taught the Maritime Staff Operators Course.

Contact Information

Areas of Expertise

  • Afghanistan
  • Amphibious Warfare
  • Arctic
  • COIN
  • Ground Warfare
  • Iraq
  • Joint Operations
  • Leadership
  • Military Planning

Professional Highlights

2019

Associate Professor, College of Maritime Operational Warfare, US Naval War College

2016

Commanding Officer, US Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, CA

Responsible for 6 Service Level Training Events each year as well as eleven formal school programs of instruction. Doctrinal lead for operations in cold weather and mountainous environments.
2014

US Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa, Stuttgart Germany

Assigned initially as Assistant Chief of Staff, G5 (Plans) and then Deputy Commander.
2012

AC/S, G-3 (C-3), II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)/Regional Command Southwest

Coalition force headquarters for all forces in Helmand and Nimruz Provinces, Afghanistan.
2010

Officer in Charge, II MEF Special Operations Training Group

Responsible for the training program and certification recommendation to the commander for all east coast Marine Corps Expeditionary Units and Special Purpose MAGTFs.
2008

Deputy Chief, Strategy Division, J5, US Central Command

Responsible for development of USCENTCOM Theater Strategy.
2008

US Naval War College

Graduated with Highest Distinction. Recipient of Larkin Award for Academic Excellence by a Marine Corps Officer.
2006

Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 3d Marines, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Completed combat deployments to Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and Haditha, Iraq.
2001

1st Battalion, 8th Marines and 2d Marine Division

Served two and 1/2 years as Executive Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Iwo Jima ARG). Served as Commander of the Maritime Special Purpose Force. Service ashore in Mosul, Iraq and Liberia (2003). Then served one year as G-3 Training Officer, 2d Marine Division.
1998

1st Battalion, 25th Marines

Inspector-Instructor for Alpha Company, 1/25 based in Topsham, Maine.

Education

M.A., US Naval War College, 2008 (Highest Distinction)

M.Ed., University of Virginia, 1995

B.S., Boston University, 1988

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