Commanding Officer, Col. David Hough, USMC

Colonel David Hough entered the United States Marine Corps in June of 1975 serving as an Artillery Fire Direction Control Man at the Artillery Demonstration Unit, Quantico, VA, until detaching to attend the Pennsylvania State University in 1977 during which time he drilled with Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines.  Commissioned in 1981, he attended the Infantry Officers Course and the U.S Army Ranger Course before reporting to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, in 1982. 

As a member of 1/8, he deployed twice to the Mediterranean, once as a Rifle Platoon Commander in the Multinational Peacekeeping Force, Beirut, Lebanon, and subsequently as the Weapons Company Executive Officer and Weapons Company Commander.  His following assignment in 1985 was as the Officer Selection Officer in the 4th Marine Corps Recruiting District, before attending the U.S Army Infantry Officers Advance Course. 

In 1988 Colonel Hough reported to Second Surveillance Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group, where he deployed twice to the Mediterranean as the Maritime Special Purpose Force Commander for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), in direct support of operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq.  Reporting to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, in 1991, he served as the Inspector Instructor until 1993 when he reported to Oregon State University as the Marine Officer Instructor and earned his M.S. Degree. 

Reporting into the 2nd Marine Regiment in 1996, Colonel Hough deployed twice, once to the NATO IFOR staff in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and then as the Executive Officer for 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, participating in Operation Dynamic Response in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Upon his return, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division Inspector’s Office. During December 1998, he reported to the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a member of the Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance Office and later as the military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict. Colonel Hough returned to the 2nd Marine Division for duty as the Deputy Division Inspector in November 2000 and assumed command of the 1st Battalion 8th Marines, 2d Marine Division, 26 June 2001.

Deploying twice with the Battalion, they participated in NATO Exercise in Norway, and in June of 2002 the Battalion became the Battalion Landing Team as part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, JTF Horn of Africa and JTF Liberia. Relinquishing command in December of 2003, Colonel Hough graduated from the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy, in July and reported for duty with the 2nd Marine Division, assumed command of headquarters battalion, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

He served as the officer in charge for Special Operations Training Group II, Marine Expeditionary Force. Colonel Hough is currently serving as the Professor of Naval Science of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Command at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.

Colonel Hough’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat V with 4 gold stars and the Combat Action ribbon with gold star.

Col Hough is married to the former Jennifer Williams of Vestal, New York, and they have four children, Stephanie (17), Megan (16), Gunnar (14), and Spencer (12).