Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) Bernard Hess, USMC
Commanding Officer, 3D Law Enforcement Battalion
LtCol Hess enlisted in the Marine Corps on 14 January 1986 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served as a 2nd Echelon Motor Transport Mechanic at Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 in Iwakuni, Japan; a Marine Security Guard in Moscow, Russia and London, England; and an Interrogator-Translator at Intelligence Company, 1st Surveillance Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group, Camp Lejeune, NC. Completing his undergraduate education in Humanities through the University of the State of New York, he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School through the Enlisted Commissioning Program and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on 6 December 1996. He attended The Basic School in Quantico, VA and the Military Police Officer Basic Course in Fort McClellan, AL.
In December 1997, LtCol Hess was assigned to Camp Pendleton, CA, where he served as a Platoon Commander and Company Executive Officer, Military Police Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, and a Watch Commander, Military Police Company, Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
In June 2000, LtCol Hess returned to The Basic School, Training and Education Command, Quantico, VA where he served as a Warfighting Instructor, Staff Platoon Commander, and Scheduling Officer. LtCol Hess then attended the Military Police Captain Career Course at Fort Leonard Wood, MO from March to July 2003.
In August 2003, LtCol Hess was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa Japan, where he served as the Operations Officer at the Provost Marshal’s Office, and the Staff Secretary for the Commanding General of Marine Corps Bases Japan. From August 2006 to August 2008 he served as the Provost Marshal for Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler and Marine Corps Bases Japan.
In August 2008, LtCol Hess attended the Joint Military Attaché School, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington DC, and in December 2008 was assigned as the US Marine/Naval Attaché, US Defense Attaché Office, US Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria.
In July 2011, LtCol Hess was ordered to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, where he served as the Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, and the Command Inspector General.
LtCol Hess’ personal decorations include the: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star, Good Conduct Medal with two bronze stars, and Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.