Lawrence D. Nicholson
{{short description|United States Marine Corps general}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Lawrence D. Nicholson
|image= U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson sits for his official photograph at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va, Jan. 2, 2013 130509-M-ZZ999-001.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Official portrait 2013
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1956|6|29}}
|birth_place= Toronto, Ontario, Canada
|death_date=
|death_place=
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|allegiance= United States
|branch= United States Marine Corps
|serviceyears= 1979–2018
|rank = Lieutenant General
|unit=
|commands= III Marine Expeditionary Force
1st Marine Division
1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade
5th Marine Regiment
Task Force Leatherneck
|battles= Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
|awards= Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal
|relations=
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}}
Lawrence D. Nicholson (born June 29, 1956) is a retired United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General. He attended Augusta Military Academy in Ft. Defiance, VA. He served as Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force from 2015 to 2018, having previously commanded the 1st Marine Division from 2012 to 2015.
Marine Corps career
He was commissioned via the Naval ROTC program at The Citadel in 1979, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English. His initial assignment was as a Platoon Leader with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines under the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. He served as Series Commander and Company Commander at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego from 1982 to 1985. He has extensive experience in Iraq having led Regimental Combat Team 1 during Operation Phantom Fury, where he was wounded in action;Dick Camp "Operation Phantom Fury: the assault and capture of Fallujah, Iraq" Zenith Press, 2009 served as a staff officer with the 1st Marine Division in Ramadi and commanded the 5th Marine Regiment in Fallujah.{{cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson US Marine Corps, Retired |url=https://spiritofamerica.org/about/team/lawrence-nicholson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029050727/https://spiritofamerica.org/about/team/lawrence-nicholson|access-date=2017-05-06|archive-date=2020-10-29}}
In Afghanistan he commanded Task Force Leatherneck and the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Helmand Province along with serving as Deputy Commander for Operations of the International Security Assistance Force.{{cite web |title=Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson|url=https://secure.citadelalumni.org/dcal/detail.php?id=350|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201029050932/https://secure.citadelalumni.org/dcal/detail.php?id=350|access-date=2018-01-09|archive-date = 2020-10-29}} Prior to assuming command of 1st MARDIV he was Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
General Nicholson earned a master's degree from the United States Army Command and General Staff College; he retired and passed command of III Marine Expeditionary Force to Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith, who is also a former 1st Marine Division commander, on August 2, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4609836/iii-mef-bids-farewell-nicholson-welcomes-smith-new-commanding-general|title=III MEF bids farewell to Nicholson, welcomes Smith as new commanding general|date=August 2, 2018|website=Defense Visual Information Distribution Service|access-date=August 2, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/nicholson-bids-farewell-to-iii-marine-expeditionary-force-on-okinawa-1.540784|title=Nicholson bids farewell to III Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sdut-marine-division-change-of-command-2013jun10-story.html|title = Blue Diamond gets new commander|date = 11 June 2013}} Nicholson is an Advisory Board Member of Spirit of America, a 501(c)(3) organization.https://spiritofamerica.org/staff/lieutenant-general-lawrence-nicholson {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
References
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Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal