III Marine Expeditionary Force

III MEF Headquarters Group
Commanding Officer

Col Sean M. McBride, USMC

A native of Butte, Montana, Colonel McBride graduated from boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA in September 1983 and spent the next seven years serving with B Company, 4^th Reconnaissance Battalion.

In Jan 1991 Colonel McBride was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.  After completing The Basic School, the Basic Communications Officer’s Course, and the Cryptologic Division Officer’s Course, he was assigned to 1^st Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Group, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he served as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Assistant Signals Intelligence Officer from August 1992 through June 1994.

 In June 1994, Colonel McBride reported to 1^st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he served as the Signals
Intelligence Officer and Special Security Officer.

In June 1995, Colonel McBride was transferred to Marine Support Battalion, Naval Security Station, Washington, DC, where he served as Battalion Adjutant.  In August 1996, after attending the MAGTF Intelligence Officer Course at the Navy/Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Colonel McBride was selected for the National Security Agency Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program.  From August 1996 through April 1999, he served in a variety of positions within the Agency, as well as serving as a Platoon Commander and the Executive Officer of Company B, Marine Support Battalion.

In April 1999, Colonel McBride reported for duty at 2d Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  During the next three years, he served as Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer.

After graduating from the Joint Military Intelligence College in Washington, DC, in July 2003, Colonel McBride was assigned to Special Operations Command, Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii for duty as the Chief of Intelligence Operations.

In July 2006, Colonel McBride reported for duty with I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he was immediately deployed to Iraq to serve as the Officer in Charge of the Multinational Force-West G-2 Iraqi Transition Team Support Cell.

In December 2006, Colonel McBride assumed command of 2d Radio Battalion. After returning from a second OIF deployment, he was selected to attend the United States Army War College.

In June 2009, Colonel McBride reported to Headquarters Marine Corps Intelligence Department, where he served as Chief, Manpower and Training Branch, Chief, Intelligence Operations Division, and Chief of Staff.

In July 2012, Colonel McBride reported for duty with III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan to serve as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2 (Intelligence) until taking over command of III MEF Headquarters Group in in June 2014.

Col McBride's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2).