Karsten Heckl

{{short description|U.S. Marine Corps general}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = Karsten Heckl

| image = Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl (2).jpg

| nickname = Hazel{{cite web |url=https://www.imef.marines.mil/Leaders/Leadership-Display/Article/873762/lt-gen-karsten-hazel-heckl |title=LT. GEN. KARSTEN "HAZEL" HECKL |access-date=2021-05-09}}

| birth_name = Karsten Selby Heckl

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Marine Corps

| serviceyears = 1988–2024

| rank = Lieutenant General

| commands = {{plainlist|

• Marine Corps Combat Development Command
• I Marine Expeditionary Force
• 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
• MAWTS-1
• VMM-162}}

| battles = {{ubl|War in Afghanistan|Iraq War}}

| awards = {{ubl|Defense Superior Service Medal|Legion of Merit (2)|Bronze Star Medal (2)}}

| alma_mater = Georgia State University (BA)

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=LtGen Karsten Heckl on the 31 Amphibious Ship Requirement.ogg|title=Karsten Heckl's voice|type=speech|description=Heckl on the 31-amphibious-ship requirement at a House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee hearing
Recorded May 18, 2022}}

}}

Karsten Selby Heckl (born September 2, 1964) is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who last served as the deputy commandant for combat development and integration and commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, from 2021 to 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/959 |title=PN959 — Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl — Marine Corps — 117th Congress (2021-2022) |date=August 4, 2021 |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=August 6, 2021}}{{cite press release |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2721533/general-officer-announcement/ |title=General Officer Announcement |date=August 5, 2021 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |access-date=August 6, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cdi.marines.mil/Leaders/Leaders-View/Article/1872371/lieutenant-general-karsten-s-heckl/|title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL KARSTEN S. HECKL|work=www.marines.mil|publisher=U.S. Marine Corps|archive-date=20 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320205918/https://www.cdi.marines.mil/Leaders/Leaders-View/Article/1872371/lieutenant-general-karsten-s-heckl/}} {{PD-notice}} Heckl previously served as the commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force. He previously served as commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-06|title=Marine Corps Announces New Aviation, Pacific Leadership Assignments|url=https://news.usni.org/2020/05/06/marine-corps-announces-new-aviation-pacific-leadership-assignments|access-date=2021-04-23|website=USNI News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Major General Karsten Heckl Farewell Video|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/video/759153/major-general-karsten-heckl-farewell-video|access-date=2021-04-23|website=DVIDS|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Pickrell|first=Ryan|title=Marine Corps fires commander after 9 service members died when their amphibious assault vehicle sank into the sea|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/marine-corps-fires-commander-over-deadly-amphibious-assault-vehicle-accident-2020-10|access-date=2021-04-23|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hillsidememorialchapel.com/obituary/Rita-Myers |title=Rita Anne Myers |publisher=Hillside Memorial Chapel and Gardens |location=Clarkesville, Georgia |access-date=2021-08-05}}

On 30 October 2023, Heckl was made acting Commandant of the United States Marine Corps when Commandant Eric Smith was hospitalized, until he was relieved of his duties as acting Commandant when General Christopher J. Mahoney was sworn in as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on 3 November 2023.{{cite news|first=Mallory|last=Shelbourne|url=https://news.usni.org/2023/10/30/marine-corps-commandant-gen-eric-smith-hospitalized|title=Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith Hospitalized|work=USNI News|publisher=United States Naval Institute|date=30 October 2023|access-date=30 October 2023}}{{Cite web |title=General Christopher J. Mahoney |url=https://www.marines.mil/CM/Biographies/Bio-Display/Article/2478637/general-christopher-j-mahoney/|access-date=2023-11-26 |website=United States Marine Corps Flagship |language=en-US}}