Joseph Osterman

Joseph Osterman
File:Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman(2).jpg
Born	1960 (age 64–65) Edgewater, Maryland
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1982–2020
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	I Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Corps Special Operations Command Marine Corps Recruiting Command 25th Marine Regiment 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines
Battles / wars	Gulf War Somali Civil War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal

Joseph L. Osterman is a retired United States Marine lieutenant general who served as the commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marine career

Osterman was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a second lieutenant through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of Colorado in 1982. He graduated from The Basic School and the Infantry Officers Course, then received assignment as rifle platoon commander and 81 mm mortar platoon commander with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. He then served as executive officer of the Marine Detachment aboard USS Kennedy (CV 67), then as commanding officer of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS Forrestal. He served as an operations officer with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines. As a lieutenant colonel, Osterman was the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines and participated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was followed by a joint tour as an instructor and as the chief of staff, NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany, where he was responsible for training support to some 54 nations. Following his promotion to colonel, Osterman assumed command of the 25th Marine Regiment in 2004 and deployed to Iraq as an adviser to the Iraqi army. In June 2006 Osterman became director of the Expeditionary Warfare School, which was followed in 2008 by assignment as assistant division commander, 2nd Marine Division. In March 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan as commanding general, 1st Marine Division. Osterman's joint assignments include the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations, Afghanistan, and as Instructor and Chief of Staff at the NATO School, Oberammergau, Germany. As a brigadier general, Osterman served as commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command from 2011 to 2012. As a major general, Osterman assumed command of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command in August 2014 to August 2016. Upon promotion to lieutenant general, Osterman served as Deputy Commander of the United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Osterman's final assignment before retirement was Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force from July 2018 to 31 July 2020.

Post-retirement

In June 2022, Osterman was among five senior Marine and Navy officers who were censured by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro for failing to prevent the July 2020 AAV sinking incident that killed eight marines and one navy sailor.

Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations File:Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal Bronze oak leaf cluster File:US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Gold star File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit with gold award star File:Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star Medal Gold star Gold star File:Meritorious Service ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal with two gold award stars Gold star File:Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Navy Commendation Medal with gold award star Gold star File:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Navy Achievement Medal with gold award star U.S. unit awards Bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf cluster File:Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters Bronze star Bronze star File:Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze campaign stars Bronze star Bronze star Bronze star File:Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with three bronze campaign stars File:Battle-e-ribbon.png Navy E Ribbon U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons Bronze star File:National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star File:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Bronze star File:Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991–2016).svg Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star Bronze star Bronze star File:Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars Bronze star Bronze star File:Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars File:Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal File:Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg Humanitarian Service Medal Silver star Bronze star Bronze star File:Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with seven bronze campaign stars Bronze star File:Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze campaign stars File:Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon.svg Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon File:NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5).svg NATO Medal for service with the International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan) File:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

U.S. badges, patches and tabs File:USA Parachutist.png Army Parachutist Badge File:USMC Rifle Expert badge.png Rifle Expert Badge File:USMC Pistol Sharpshooter badge.png Pistol Sharpshooter Badge File:Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge