U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast

GUEST SPEAKER

Colonel Todd Desgrosseilliers, USMC (RET.)

Colonel Todd Desgrosseilliers is a retired Marine Corps infantry officer with 31 years of service. He will speak on the value of selfless service through inspired leadership.

Colonel Desgrosseilliers is a decorated veteran who served in Iraq twice as a Battalion Executive Officer and later Battalion Commander. On two separate occasions, he acted with complete disregard for his safety to protect his Marines while leading them under enemy fire. His bold actions include shielding them from a grenade explosion with his own body, exposing himself to direct enemy fire to drag an injured Marine to safety, and remaining in the open, despite being wounded by shrapnel, to lead his Marines to overcome insurgents. He was presented with the Silver Star Medal, the nation’s third-highest military decoration for valor and gallantry in combat.

The event is also a tribute to LT William S. Bush, honoring his memory as the first U.S. Marine Corps officer to die in combat while serving aboard USS Constitution in the War of 1812. A native of Auburn, Maine, Colonel Desgrosseilliers was commissioned to the U.S. Marines aboard Constitution. He will draw on his combat experience to consider LT Bush’s story and brave actions.

About Colonel Desgrosseilliers

Colonel Todd Desgrosseilliers is a retired Marine Corps infantry officer with 31 years of service. Enlisting in 1985 and serving in the infantry, he received his commission in 1990 after earning the rank of Sergeant. Desgrosseilliers served as the Commanding Officer, The Basic School (2012-2014), responsible for educating newly commissioned or appointed officers in the high standards of professional knowledge, espirit-de-corps, and leadership to prepare them for duty. He also served as Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines (2005-2007), deploying the Battalion to Iraq in 2006-2007, where they conducted counter-insurgency operations in Ramadi and Fallujah during the “Sunni Awakening.” He fought in Operation Al FAJR in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004, where he was wounded several times. His military awards include the Silver Star Medal and two Bronze Star Medals for Valor. After his retirement, Colonel Desgrosseilliers led the nonprofit Project Healing Waters as CEO, serving wounded Military Service Members.

Colonel Desgrosseilliers is a graduate of the Marine Corps’ Scout-Sniper Instructor Course; the Marine Corps’ Mountain Leaders’ Course; Amphibious Warfare School; and the Marine Corps’ Command and Staff College. He also completed the National Security Fellowship at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2008. He holds a Bachelors degree in history from Boston University, a Masters degree in military science from the Marine Corps’ Command and Staff College, and a National Security Executive Education Certificate from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Colonel Desgrosseilliers was medically retired by the Marine Corps in 2016 due to his combat wounds.