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Leadership Conference

Colonel Bryan P. McCoy, USMC

McCoy

Colonel Bryan P. McCoy, USMC


Colonel B.P. McCoy was the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment from May 2002 through July 2004 and led his Battalion through two combat tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His unit was the first Marine unit to enter Baghdad on 7 April 2003 and was the unit to pull down the Saddam Statue in Firdos Square on 9 April 2003. During the second tour 3rd Battalion 4th Marines saw action during Operation Vigilant Resolve the first battle for Fallujah during April and May of 2004. His awards include the Legion of Merit with Combat ‘V’ with gold star in lieu of second award, the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of second award. Throughout his career, Colonel McCoy has served primarily in Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance Units as platoon commander, company commander and operations officer and commanding officer at the battalion and regimental levels. He was the winner of the 2003 Navy League “General John A. Lejeune Inspirational Leadership Award” and has been the subject of articles in Time magazine, Outside magazine, and New York Times magazine. In 2004, Colonel McCoy also testified to the United States Congress, House Armed Services Committee on the situation in Iraq. He is a published author on combat leadership and is the subject of the book by embedded reporter John Koopman, McCoy’s Marines. He is a distinguished graduate from the National War College, National Defense University, Washington D.C. and is currently the Chief of Operations, United States Central Command.

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