Duane D. Thiessen

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Duane D. Thiessen
born March 11, 1951
Duane D. Thiessen as Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Korea
Place of birth	Goessel, Kansas
Allegiance	USMC
Years of service	1974-present
Rank	Major General
Commands	VMAT-203 Marine Aircraft Group 13 Inspector General of the Marine Corps 1st Marine Aircraft Wing USMC Forces Korea
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2)

Major General Duane D. Thiessen (born March 11, 1951 in Goessel, Kansas) Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Korea and Assistant Chief of Staff, U/C/J5, United Nations Command,Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea. Major General Thiessen's previous assignment was the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan from 3 June 2004 - 10 June 2005.

Thiessen was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 1974, after graduating from Pittsburg State University. Following completion of flight training he reported to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, for AV-8B transition training. First Lieutenant Thiessen's initial assignment as a Harrier pilot was with VMA-542. While with VMA-542, he performed in both operational and maintenance billets while completing two deployments to Okinawa and participating in a Mediterranean deployment aboard the USS Nassau.

In July 1982, Captain Thiessen reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1) at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, where he served as an AV-8 tactics instructor.

In December 1985, Major Thiessen returned to MCAS Cherry Point and was assigned to VMA-231 as the Operations Officer. While with VMA-231, he led a detachment of six AV-8Bs and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. Upon returning to the United States in 1988, Major Thiessen attended the Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island. Following graduation he reported to Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, DC, and served as an assistant to the AV-8B program manager.

In June 1991, Lieutenant Colonel Thiessen assumed command of VMAT-203 at MCAS Cherry Point. After relinquishing command, he returned to Washington, DC, to attend the National War College. He was subsequently assigned as the Marine Requirements Officer in the Joint Strike Fighter Program office. Colonel Thiessen then served until June of 1999 as the Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group-13 in Yuma, Arizona.

Following command of Marine Aircraft Group-13, Colonel Thiessen served in the Aviation Plans and Policy Branch of Headquarters Marine Corps until July 2000 when he was appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Force Programs. Colonel Thiessen was promoted to Brigadier General and assumed the duties as the Deputy Director of Operations, National Military Command Center in October 2001. He then served until May 2004 as the Deputy Naval Inspector General for Marine Corps Matters/Inspector General of the Marine Corps.

Major General Thiessen assumed his current duties as the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea and Assistant Chief of Staff, U/C/J-5, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea on 15 June 2005.

His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with gold star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and Navy Commendation.

Major General Thiessen is married to Lynn Rodd and they have two children.[1]