Major General Melvin Spiese, Deputy Commanding General of First Marine Expeditionary Force, will discuss the Marine Corps’ unique air-ground task force concept and how it’s employed by the services largest expeditionary headquarters to meet global force demand.  Particular emphasis will focus on I MEF’s role in Afghanistan, Central Command Area Of Responsibility, and emerging actions and activities in the Pacific Area Of Responsibility.  His experiences as the Commanding General of Training and Education Command, and U.S. European Command Deputy Director of Strategy and Policy, allow him to provide insight on the complexity of global force generation and deployment.  As threats against U.S. interests become increasingly unpredictable, an innovative force structure and supporting technology will have to be flexible and adaptive.

Major General Melvin G. Spiese
Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Bridge
Major General Spiese was commissioned via the NROTC program after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in May of 1976.

 After The Basic School, Major General Spiese was assigned to 3d Battalion, 4th Marines as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer with Company L, and served on the battalion staff.  Upon return to CONUS, Major General Spiese was assigned to Marine Barracks, Naval Weapons Station, Concord, CA. In May of 1981 he was assigned to 3d Battalion, 9th Marines as the Commanding Officer of Company I and Battalion S-4.  In May 1983 he was transferred to the NROTC Unit, Illinois Institute of Technology as the Marine Officer Instructor. Leaving Illinois in June 1986, Major General Spiese was posted to Headquarters Marine Corps, serving as the Head of Regular Officer Procurement.  Following his tour at Headquarters, he attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College, graduating in May of 1990.  After graduation, Major General Spiese was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan and was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12 as the Assistant Operations Officer and Ground Combat Liaison.

 Major General Spiese was assigned to 6th Marines in July of 1991 as the Executive Officer of 3d Battalion, then Regiment S-3.  He assumed command of 2d Force Reconnaissance Company in December 1993.  Upon relinquishing command in July 1995, Major General Spiese was reassigned to U.S. Special Operations Command, serving as a Policy Officer dealing with Counter Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Marine Corps matters.  Upon his departure from USSOCOM, Major General Spiese attended Top Level School at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies as a Fellow in the Advanced Operational Arts Studies program.  He remained a second year serving as a seminar leader for the Advanced Military Studies Program, a second year program for majors attending the Army Command and General Staff College.

Major General Spiese was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in June of 1999 as the Director, Tactical Training Exercise Control Group.  He assumed command of the School of Infantry (East) in June of 2001, and was assigned as the Director, Expeditionary Warfare School upon relinquishing command in July of 2003.  In March of 2005, Major General Spiese assumed the duties of Commanding General Training Command, Deputy Commanding General Training and Education Command. 
Major General Spiese transferred to U.S. European Command and served as the Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy and Assessments, in October 2005.  He assumed Command of Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA, in July 2007.  He commanded Training and Education Command in Quantico, VA, from May 2008 to August 2010.

His current assignment, as of September 2010, is Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Major General Spiese has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, three Legions of Merit, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal. He is a Military Freefall Parachutist and Marine Combatant Diver.  Major General Spiese has earned a Masters of Science degree from the University of Southern California, and a Masters of Military Arts and Science degree from the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies.

Q&A MODERATOR:
Dan Taylor
Director, BAE Systems, Reserve Officer & Aviator, United States Marine Corps

SIG CO-CHAIRS:
Vice Admiral Walter Davis, USN (Ret.), Board Director, CommNexus
Dan Taylor, Director, BAE Systems, Reserve Officer, United States Marine Corps & Aviator, USMC
Michael Lapadula, Fmr. VP of Strategic Business Development, Qualcomm Inc. Government Technologies Division
Bruce Roberts, Fmr. Sr. VP Security Programs, Cubic Corporation (ret)

DATE:
January 23rd, 2013

TIME:
5:30PM Registration/Networking/Refreshments
6:00PM Program Begins
7:30PM Program Ends

LOCATION:

3580 Carmel Mountain Road Suite 300
San Diego, CA 92130

COST:
Pre-Registration: (Please pre-register by noon on 1/22/13)
$10.00 – CommNexus Sponsor
$20.00 – Non-Sponsor
FREE –  Mentor Sponsor

At the Door:
$20.00 – CommNexus Sponsor
$30.00 – Non-Sponsor
FREE –  Mentor Sponsor

Students, Military & Press: FREE