Lecture Series
October 8th Lecture Series:
Lieutenant Colonel Colin Greata is an Active Duty Army officer currently assigned as an Organizational Behavior instructor at USNA. After Graduating from West Point in 2005, LTC Greata spent 15 years either in combat or preparing to go, first as an Infantryman, and then as a Special Forces officer. During that time, he continually sought the organizations assigned the most complex missions and most likely to go to combat.
When coupled with his independent study of psychology and economics, LTC Greata's experiences lend clarity to team dynamics and leadership. He is the author of Always Endeavor: A Developmental Guide for In Extremis Leaders, and is eager to share the lessons of his life in a way that will sharpen the next generation of warriors who will defend the American way of life.
November 6th Lecture Series:
Colonel Johnathan H. Vaughn is an Active Duty Marine Corps Officer currently serving as Defense Counsel of the Marine Corps. Col. Vaughn graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s of Arts with a concentration in East Asian history in 1997. He was commissioned into the Marine Corps in 1999 through the Platoon Leaders Course while enrolled at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. After graduating law school with a Juris Doctor degree in 2000, he graduated from The Basic School in 2001. Col. Vaughn graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2006 with a Master of Laws in Labor and Employment Law. He is also a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College, where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies in 2012. Col. Vaughn retains the additional military occupation specialty of Regional Area Officer for North-East Asia.
Throughout his career Col. Vaughn has held many positions, including being one of the first ever Battalion Judge Advocates, attached to Third Battalion, First Marines in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM where he was wounded in combat. He served as Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea and as Deputy Chief for Operational Law for U.S. Forces Korea and the Republic of Korea/U.S. Combined Forces Command from 2009 to 2011, and as Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (Forward) from 2012 to 2013 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He served as Military Assistant to the Department of Defense General Counsel, Office of the Secretary of Defense, from 2013 to 2015 and as Commanding Officer for Region 3 East Asia and the Pacific, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group from 2015 to 2017. He served as Associate Counsel for Manpower, Office of Counsel for the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters Marine Corps, from 2017 to 2019 before serving as Senior Advisor/Marine Corps Fellow, Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance, U.S. Department of State from 2019 to 2020. He then served as Staff Judge Advocate for Third Marine Aircraft Wing from 2020 to 2022. Most recently, he served as the Commanding Officer, Security and Emergency Services Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, from 2022 to 2024. During his career, Col. Vaughn has also served as a criminal Defense Counsel, Prosecutor, Environment Attorney, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Civilian Personnel Law Attorney.
Col Vaughn is the recipient of the 2005 American Bar Association, Young Lawyer Division “Outstanding Young Military Service Lawyer Award” for the Marine Corps and the 2015 Judge Advocate Association "Career Armed Services Attorney Award" for the Marine Corps, in addition to multiple personal military and State Department awards.
