Michael W. Hagee
General, U.S. Marine Corps

Michael W. Hagee was born on 1 December 1944 in Virginia. He is the son of Robert L. Hagee, a U. S. Navy pilot in World War II who, in the summer of 2009, was awarded a plaque at the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site, otherwise known as the Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, TX.

Hagee graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. He also holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the U.S. Naval War College. In 2004, he was honored with the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award.

Hagee's command assignments include: Commanding Officer Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (1970); Platoon Commander, Company A and Commanding Officer Headquarters and Service Company, First Battalion, First Marines (1970-1971); Commanding Officer, Waikele-West Loch Guard Company (1974-1976); Commanding Officer, Pearl Harbor Guard Company (1976-1977); Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines (1988-1990); Commanding Officer, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (1992-1993); Commanding General, 1st Marine Division (1998-1999); and Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force(2000-2002).

His staff assignments include: Communications-Electronics Officer, 1st Marine Air Command and Control Squadron (1971); Assistant Director, Telecommunications School (1972-1974); Training Officer, 3d Marine Division (1977-1978); Electrical Engineering Instructor, U.S. Naval Academy (1978-1981); Head, Officer Plans Section, Headquarters Marine Corps (1982-1986); Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, 2d Marine Division (1987-1988); Executive Officer, 8th Marines (1988); Director Humanities and Social Science Division/Marine Corps Representative, U.S. Naval Academy (1990-1992); Liaison Officer to the U.S. Special Envoy to Somalia (1992-1993); Executive Assistant to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps (1993-1994); Director, Character Development Division, United States Naval Academy (1994-1995); Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C.; Executive Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence (1995-1996); Deputy Director of Operations, Headquarters, U.S. European Command (1996-1998); and Director Strategic Plans and Policy, U.S. Pacific Command (1999-2000).

Hagee was the 33rd Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (2003-2006), succeeding General James L. Jones on 13 January 2003. He stepped down as Commandant two months before the end of his four-year term, and was succeeded by General James T. Conway on 13 November 2006. On that date, Hagee had his retirement ceremony just prior to the change of command ceremony. Hagee retired from the Marine Corps on 1 January 2007.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit w/ 2 Award Stars
Bronze Star Medal w/ Valor Device
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 Award Star
Navy Achievement Medal w/ 1 Award Star
Combat Action Ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 Service Star
National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 Service Stars
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 Service Stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 Service Star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 Service Stars
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon w/ 1 Service Star
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal

Badges

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Personal

He is married to Silke, daughter of German Air Force Brigadier General Werner Boie, and they are the parents of two children.