Vincent A. Coglianese

Vincent A. Coglianese (born March 6, 1960) is a retired United States Marine Corps major general who served in various logistics and command roles, including as Commanding General of Marine Corps Installations Command. Over a 37-year career, he participated in five combat deployments and held key positions in supply chain management, special operations, and infrastructure oversight.

Early life and education

Coglianese was born to Fred and Mildred S. Coglianese on March 6, 1960, in New Jersey. He attended St. Rose High School in Belmar, graduating in 1978. He graduated from Indiana University South Bend in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in public and environmental affairs. He later earned a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. Additionally, he attended Penn State University as the Senior Marine Fellow in the Supply Chain and Information Systems Program. His professional military education includes completion of the Motor Transport Officers' Course and the U.S. Army Transportation Officers' Advanced Course.

Military career

Coglianese was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1983. His early assignments focused on logistics and engineering roles within the operating forces, including:

  • Battalion motor transport officer, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines
  • Engineer officer, Detachment B, Marine Wing Support Group 27
  • Motor transport officer, Marine Wing Support Squadron 273
  • Group motor transport and engineer officer, 2nd Surveillance Reconnaissance Intelligence Group
  • Company commander, Headquarters and Service Company (deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm)
  • S-4 (logistics officer), 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion
  • Operations and executive officer, Combat Service Support Group 3
  • Commander, Combat Service Support Detachment 78
  • Commanding officer, Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 24 (deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to Iraq's Northern Babil Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom)
  • First deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command
  • Commanding officer, Combat Logistics Regiment 27
  • Chief of staff, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) and commanding officer, Combat Logistics Regiment 27 (Forward) (deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom)

In supporting assignments, he served as the Marine Corps representative to the United States Merchant Marine Academy; assistant operations officer for the Joint Security Directorate at U.S. Central Command (deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as part of Task Force Bowie, a Joint Interagency Task Force); and as the first Marine assigned as J-4 (logistics director) for Special Operations Command Central (deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as the J-4 Directorate for Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command).

Coglianese was selected for promotion to brigadier general in 2010 while serving as commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 27. As a general officer, his assignments included:

  • Deputy director for operations (J-3), The Joint Staff
  • Commanding general, Marine Corps Installations West and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (assumed command in 2011)
  • Commanding general, 1st Marine Logistics Group (2013–2014)
  • Assistant deputy commandant for installations and logistics (Plans)
  • Inspector general of the United States Marine Corps
  • Assistant deputy commandant for installations and logistics (facilities) and commanding general, Marine Corps Installations Command (culminating assignment)

He was promoted to major general on August 15, 2014. During his career, Coglianese participated in five combat tours and led logistics policy efforts at the Pentagon in 2015, advancing the Marine Corps' leadership in Department of Defense logistics audit readiness.

He retired in 2020 after 37 years of service. Pinning a Purple Heart on his son, Ferdinand Coglianese

Post-military career

Since 2019, Coglianese has served on the board of directors for 11th Hour Service, a nonprofit organization.

Personal life

Coglianese is married to Mary Coglianese. They have two sons, Vincent A. Coglianese Jr., radio personality, and Ferdinand Coglianese, a Marine Corps veteran who received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained during a 2011 deployment to Afghanistan; Coglianese personally presented the award to his son in 2013.