Rear Admiral Marsh

Rear Admiral W. Clyde Marsh
United States Navy
Commander, Amphibious Group Three

Rear Admiral Marsh received his commission as an Ensign on 6 June 1973 following graduation from Alabama A&M University. He later earned a master’s degree in International Relations from Troy State University in 1988. Rear Adm. Marsh is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and National Defense University Joint Flag-General Officer Capstone Course. He is also a graduate of the Black Sea Regional Security Program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Rear Adm. Marsh’s operational sea tours include duty as Gunnery Officer in USS Ozbourn (DD 846); Missile Officer in USS Parsons (DDG 33) forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan; Operations Officer and Navigator in USS Prairie (AD 15); Weapons Officer in USS Manley (DD 940); First Lieutenant in USS Pensacola (LSD 38) in support of the amphibious landing at Beirut, Lebanon; Executive Officer in USS St. Louis (LKA 116) (3 Battle “E” Awards); and as Executive Officer of USS Essex (LHD 2) in support of Operation United Shield, the amphibious assault and withdrawal of United Nations Forces from Somalia.

Rear Adm. Marsh’s command tours include two Mediterranean deployments in support of Operation Sharp Edge and Operation Silver Pines as Commanding Officer, USS Sumter (LST 1181) (3 Battle “E” Awards); an Arabian Gulf deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch as Commanding Officer, USS Cleveland (LPD 7) (3 Battle “E” Awards); Commander, Amphibious Squadron Five and Commander, USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group. He earned the Battle Efficiency “E” Award on each ship that he served since joining the Amphibious Forces in 1981.

Rear Adm. Marsh’s shore assignments include duty as Simulation Support Officer at Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic; Surface Engineering Branch Head at Chief of Naval Education and Training; Conventional War Plans and Japan Desk Officer, Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate (J5), United States Pacific Command. In 1995, Rear Adm. Marsh was selected by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) as Special Assistant for Equal Opportunity (NOOE). In this capacity he was the advisor to the Navy’s top leadership and the CNO’s personal representative at military as well as civilian equal opportunity forums nation wide.

Rear Adm. Marsh was promoted to Flag Rank on 1 September 2000 and his most recent assignment was as Deputy Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division (N75B) in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Rear Adm. Marsh assumed command of Amphibious Group Three in San Diego on November 20, 2001. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Commander Task Force Five One. In his role as CTF 51 he commanded 31 US/UK coalition ships during the Iraqi campaign and was responsible for expeditionary operations throughout the littorals of the Arabian Gulf. He played a key role in executing national tasking and liberating the people of Iraq.

Rear Adm. Marsh’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (three awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various campaign and unit awards. Rear Adm. Marsh is the first flag officer to receive the Department of the Navy Nathaniel Stemson Leadership and Equal Employment Opportunity Award.