Michael Manning
Chief of Staff
Marine Corps Systems Command
Colonel Manning, a native of Fairfax, Virginia, enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve in 1985 and attended boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. He was subsequently assigned to a drilling unit at Naval Air Facility, Washington, D.C., where he was trained as an air traffic controller. In April 1991, he was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the Virginia Military Institute and completion of Officer Candidates Course. He graduated from The Basic School and Infantry Officer’s Course in December 1991, and was subsequently assigned to his first infantry battalion, 2nd Battalion 9th Marines, then 2nd Battalion 4th Marines at Camp Pendleton, California. There he served as infantry platoon commander, weapons platoon commander, anti-armor platoon commander, company executive officer and battalion assistant operations officer. He transferred to the School of Infantry East in 1995 and served as company commander, battalion operations officer and battalion executive officer.
From 1998-1999, Colonel Manning attended Amphibious Warfare School and was subsequently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines where he served as company commander, battalion operations officer and battalion executive officer. In 2002, he was assigned to Infantry Weapons Systems at Marine Corps Systems Command where he earned his level III program management certification. In 2006, Colonel Manning was assigned to 2nd Marine Regiment and Regimental Combat Team 2 as the operations officer and executive officer, and subsequently was selected for command of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines. In August 2011, he attended the NATO Defense College, and upon graduation was selected for promotion to colonel and applied to become an acquisition professional. In 2012, he was selected to become an acquisition professional and assigned to MCSC. During his time at MCSC, he served as program manager for Infantry Weapons Systems, portfolio manager for Ground Combat Element Systems, and currently serves as chief of staff.
Colonel Manning has held command billets from infantry platoon up to and including battalion command, and his staff billets include battalion and regimental operations officer, executive officer and Division G-3A. He has attended Amphibious Warfare School, completed Distance Education Command and Staff College, and attended the NATO Defense College and Executive Program Managers Course.
Colonel Manning is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two gold stars and Combat V, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon with gold star.