Robert B. Neller

General Robert B. Neller served as the 37th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from September 2015 to July 2019.

He retired from active duty in 2019. A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Neller graduated from the University of Virginia in 1975 with a degree in history and speech communication. He later earned a master’s degree from Pepperdine University in human resources management. After graduating from Virginia, Neller went directly into the Marine Corps via the Platoon Leader Class.

A career Infantry Officer, Neller has commanded from Platoon through Service Component HQs. He has been assigned as a General Officer in each of the three USMC active infantry Divisions and commanded the 3rd Marine Division. He is a joint qualified officer having served in Europe at SHAPE as a NATO staff officer and as the J3/COO of the Joint Staff. Operationally, Neller participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In OIF 05-07 during 2006, he served as the Deputy Commanding General for Multi-National Force West in Iraq’s Anbar Province.

Upon retirement, Neller moved to the Austin, Texas area where he is involved in consulting, teaching, motivational speaking and serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. One of his primary consulting activities has been in the training of law enforcement personnel in their response to an active shooter situation and other challenging scenarios facing today’s law enforcement personnel. To improve police performance, he has become an advocate of virtual reality simulation to enhance and reinforce police training and policies, especially the de-escalation of a situation resulting in a non-kinetic outcome.