Major Brian McNamara, USMC currently serves on
the Staff of the Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations
West. Prior to his current assignment, he participated in Operation
Iraqi Freedom as the Air Operations Officer, USS Bonhomme Richard
(LHD-6).
He is a native Californian, with family roots in the Golden State
pre-dating the gold rush.
Brian funded his college education by working
on a transit bus assembly line, delivering seafood to restaurants,
selling retail auto parts, and directing the intramural sports
program at San Jose State. In 1988, he received his Computer Science
degree from San Jose
State University.
Major McNamara is a commercially licensed and military helicopter
pilot. He has served in several west coast CH-46E squadrons as
Personnel Officer, Logistics Officer, and Operations Officer. He has
over 1500 flight hours, many of which were accrued operating
overseas from U.S. Navy amphibious ships. He is a decorated veteran of operations in Somalia
and Iraqi Freedom.
Major McNamara has twice held Command. In 1997-98, he commanded
Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment,
while concurrently serving as the battalion’s air officer. In
2000-01, he commanded the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters
Company.
In the three years leading up to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Major
McNamara was hand-picked to design the information architecture and
data systems plans executed by the Commanding Generals of I Marine
Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Division, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing,
and 1st Force Service Support Group, in their prosecution of that
war. In November 2002, Major McNamara was identified by a future
Commandant of the Marine Corps as one of a very small number of
officers capable of delivering network-centric warfare capabilities
commensurate with 21st century vision.
Major McNamara’s military awards include the Meritorious Service
Medal with Gold Star (representing second award), Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral “1”, and the Navy-Marine
Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars (which represent
second, third, and fourth awards).
Major McNamara is a graduate of Marine Corps University's Amphibious Warfare School and
Command & Staff College. He also holds a Master’s Degree from
Webster University in Information Management.
During off-duty time, Major McNamara can usually be found
restoring his 1948 beach bungalow in San Clemente, longboard
surfing, or under the hood of his classic 1955
Chevrolet wagon.