Commandants of the Marine Corps

Twenty retired military officers, academics, and historians contribute 27 essays tracing the history of the U.S. Marine Corps through the service of 27 commandants serving the Marine Corps between 1775 and 1983. Each essay describes the personality of the featured commandant, while also assessing the subject's performance and his historical significance. The essays are preceded by a detailed introduction on the organization of Headquarters Marine Corps to assist readers in understanding the commandant's organizational environment.