Quick Facts
Biography
Lieutenant General Keith J. Stalder is a retired United States Marine Corps general, who last commanded the United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific from August 22, 2008, to September 2, 2010.
Biography
Keith Stalder was born in Venezuela and grew up in Alaska. A 1984 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he holds a master's degree in Aeronautics. He is also a graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, and the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy.
He has flown the F-4 Phantom II and the F/A-18 Hornet with VMFA-333, VMFA-235, VMFA-115, the Navy's VFA-125, VMFA-531 and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). He also served at Headquarters, European Command, Stuttgart, Germany as the Operations Division Chief for the military-to-military contact program for Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He led the Marine Corps' F/A-18 Hornet Introduction Team (HIT) in the early 1980s, commanded VMFA-531 and MAWTS-1 and was the Deputy Director for Plans and Policy, United States Central Command, during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Stalder also previously served as the Deputy and Commanding General, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Deputy Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, in Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Later, he became the Assistant Wing Commander, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, rising to become the Commanding General during a second tour in the Iraq war and
Stalder commanded the Training and Education Command starting in 2005. He relinquished command to MajGen George J. Flynn on July 21, 2006. In 2006, Stalder become Commanding General of the II Marine Expeditionary Force, and relinquished command to LtGen Dennis J. Hejlik on July 25, 2008.
On February 8, 2008, Stalder was nominated for appointment as the commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific; commanding general, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific; and commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific, and for reappointment to the rank of lieutenant general. He assumed command on August 23, 2008.
He relinquished command and retired on September 2, 2010.
Decorations
His personal decorations include:
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| Naval Aviator Badge | ||||
| 1st Row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 oak leaf cluster | ||
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| 2nd Row | Legion of Merit | Meritorious Service Medal | Air Medal with 2 Strike/Flight awards | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 1 award star |
| 3rd Row | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | Navy Presidential Unit Citation | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Navy Unit Commendation |
| 4th Row | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars | Iraq Campaign Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| 5th Row | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Korea Defense Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 7 service stars | Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon w/ 1 service star |