Colonel John P. Sullivan, Jr. attended the University of Mississippi, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the NROTC program in 1993.
Colonel Sullivan’s command and OIC billets: OIC, Engineer Operations Division, Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 273; Camp Commandant, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 533, Aviano Air Base, Italy in support of Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia-Herzegovina; OIC, Hurricane Bertha Relief Detachment, MWSS 273; Officer Selection Officer, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; H&S and Engineer Support Company Commanders, 9th Engineer Support Battalion; Marine Construction Company Commander, Naval Construction Task Group, Joint Task Force 510, Operation Enduring Freedom–Philippines; Commanding Officer, 3d Combat Engineer Battalion, Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan; Maneuver Division OIC and Doctrine, Standards, and Training Division OIC, Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group; Academics Division OIC, Marine Corps Logistics Operations Group; and Commanding Officer, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
Colonel Sullivan’s staff assignments: Assistant Operations Officer, MWSS 273; Engineer Task Analyst, Ground Training Branch, Training Command; Battalion Logistics (S-4) Officer and Battalion Operations (S-3) Officer, 9th Engineer Support Battalion; Camp Fallujah Engineer Officer, I MEF Headquarters Group, Operation Iraqi Freedom II-2; Planning Officer, Marine Forces Pacific Command; Theater Security Cooperation Construction Coordinator, J4, and Operations Officer, J5, U.S. Pacific Command; and Assistant Chief of Staff G-4 and Chief of Staff, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
Colonel Sullivan has attended The Basic School; the Basic Engineer Officer Course; Amphibious Warfare School Distance Education Program; the Weapons Tactics Instructor Course; the Engineer Captain’s Career Course; Marine Corps Command and Staff College; (graduation with distinction and receipt of the Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune Writing Award); Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting; and Naval War College, Newport, RI (graduation with distinction and receipt of the James V. Forrestal Award for Excellence in Force Planning).
Since 2007, Colonel Sullivan has served as a Marine Corps University Adjunct Faculty member, teaching non-resident Expeditionary Warfare School and Command and Staff College courses. He has a Masters of Public Administration degree from Webster University, a Masters of Military Studies degree and a Masters of Operational Studies degree from Marine Corps University, and a Masters of National Security and Strategic Studies degree from the Naval War College.
His decorations include: Bronze Star Medal with gold star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star. Colonel Sullivan is the 2002 recipient of the Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune Award for Inspirational Leadership.