James Terry Conway American military general, thirty-fourth commander of the Marine Corps. Date of Birth: 26.12.1947 Country: USA

Biography of James Terry Conway

James Terry Conway is an American military general and the thirty-fourth commander of the Marine Corps. He was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas and attended school in St. Louis, Missouri. Conway then enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1969.

After graduating, Conway was drafted into the army in 1970 as an infantry officer. He initially commanded a rifle platoon in the 3rd Battalion of the Marine Corps and later became the executive officer on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. Following his successful completion of the advanced infantry officer course, Conway served in the 2nd Marine Division as a field officer. He commanded two student companies and taught tactics at the basic school.

Conway then transferred to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which operated in the western Pacific and Beirut. Upon returning to the United States, he served as the Deputy Director of Operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position he held for two years. Conway continued his military education and graduated from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, where he again excelled. He was then given command of the 3rd Battalion of the Marine Corps and served in Southeast Asia for eight months during the Gulf War.

After the war, Conway was promoted to colonel and assumed command of the basic school. In December 1995, he was promoted to brigadier general and again served in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Conway then became a major general and the commander of the 1st Marine Division. He was later promoted to lieutenant general and transferred to the expeditionary forces of the Marine Corps. He deployed to Iraq twice as part of these forces.

On June 11, 2009, Conway spoke at the National Press Club, emphasizing the importance of maintaining amphibious assault ships, even in an era where their use may be less frequent. He expressed "significant concerns" about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and the changes being proposed by the Pentagon. Conway argued that if openly homosexual individuals were allowed to serve in the Marine Corps, the current rules regarding cohabitation in barracks would need to be carefully reviewed.

James Terry Conway has had a distinguished military career, rising through the ranks to become a highly respected general. His leadership and expertise have made a significant impact on the Marine Corps, and he continues to contribute to military discussions and debates.