Colonel John Caldwell is the Deputy Director, Communication Directorate, HQMC.
He has served more than 30 years on active duty in the Marine Corps as follows: enlisted combat correspondent (1993-1998); commissioned and designated a Public Affairs Officer (1998); operational deployments to Kosovo (1999) and Iraq (2007, ‘08); overseas in Okinawa, Japan (1994-5; 2020-2023); and multiple stateside tours, including three in support of recruiting—the last of which he led the service’s ~$100M annual investment in marketing, advertising and communication; and three within the Pentagon—twice leading the service headquarters’ news, social and entertainment media operations.
He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina; resident Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Staff College and the U.S. Naval War College; as well as Harvard Business School’s Strategic Marketing Management and Driving Digital Strategies Executive Education programs. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Art Studio, a Master of Military Studies, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.
His personal decorations include two Legion of Merit, four Meritorious Service Medals, and three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals.