2008-2009 Marine Corps Fellows
Lieutenant Colonel John Kasperski
Lieutenant Colonel Kasperski attended the University of Tulsa on athletic scholarship and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising and Public Relations. He was commissioned in Quantico, Virginia in August 1986 through the Officer Commissioning Course program.
After completing The Basic School and the Logistics Officer Course, 2ndLt Kasperski reported to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to Brigade Service Support Group 1, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade in August of 1987. He served as Platoon Commander and Executive Officer of Landing Support Company from 1987-1990.
In September 1990, 1stLt Kasperski was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment 36, 3D Force Service Support Group, at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, where he served as Operations Officer. He was promoted to Captain in July 1991.
Captain Kasperski then reported to Camp Pendleton, California in August 1991 and served as the Logistics Officer for the School of Infantry (SOI) until July 1994. After his tour at SOI, he attended Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico Virginia. Following AWS, he returned to Camp Pendleton in June 1995, and reported to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force where he served as the Officer-In-Charge, Support Branch, G-7. He was promoted to Major in October 1996.
In June 1997, Major Kasperski joined the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and served as the Logistics Officer. During his two deployments with the MEU, Major Kasperski participated in Operation Desert Thunder (Response to Iraq’s non-compliance with United Nations Resolutions), Operation Safe Departure (Non-combatant evacuation operation in Eritrea) and Operation Stabilize (Multinational peacekeeping efforts following East Timor’s independence referendum).
Following his tour with the 11th MEU, Major Kasperski reported to Bahrain in May 2000 and served as the Marine Logistics Officer with the 5th Fleet / Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) staff. While assigned to NAVCENT, Major Kasperski provided logistical support to initial elements responding to the terrorist attack on the USS Cole (Operation Determined Response).
In July 2001, Major Kasperski was assigned to United States Central Command (CENTCOM) to serve as the Mobility Plans Officer. During the period 2001 to 2004, he was the J-4 Mobility Planner for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August 2002. In January 2003, and again in November 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Kasperski deployed with the CENTCOM forward headquarters to As Sayliyah, Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In June 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Kasperski reported to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and served as Executive Officer, Combat Service Support Group 3, 3d Marine Logistics Group. During April to September 2005, he commanded Combat Logistics Battalion 31, formed to provide combat service support to II MEF units participating in Exercise Mojave Viper in 29 Palms, California.
Lieutenant Colonel Kasperski assumed command of Combat Logistics Battalion 11 in August 2006. He was promoted to Colonel in November 2007. During Nov 2007 to June 2008, he was deployed with the 11th MEU during WESTPAC 08-01.
His current assignment is as a Commandant of the Marine Corps Logistics Fellow at Penn State University.
His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star.
Major Michael J. Monroe
Major Monroe is from Roseville, Illinois and was born on August 29, 1972. He graduated recruit training in March 1993. He graduated Officer Candidates School and was commissioned in December 1995.
Following graduation from The Basic School, he reported to the 2d FSSG, where he commanded the headquarters platoon, and served as the Assistant Operations Officer for MEU Service Support Group 26, LF6F deployments 2-98 and 2-99. He participated in Operations JOINT GUARD, ALLIED HARBOR, JOINT GUARDIAN and AVID REPONSE.
He was promoted to Captain and returned to The Basic School in January 2000 and served as a Tactics Instructor, Staff Platoon Commander and Motor Transport Officer.
He attended the Expeditionary Warfare School 2002-2003, then reported to Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 in May 2003 and deployed to Iraq for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II. He commanded the squadron's Forward Arming and Refueling Point, Engineer Operations Company, Headquarters and Support Company and served as the squadron's Operations Officer.
He returned to Quantico and was promoted to Major in 2005, where he served as a Capabilities Integration Officer with the Logistics Integration Division, Combat Development and Integration, Headquarters Marine Corps. In 2008, he was selected to be the 2008-2009 Penn State, CMC Logistics Fellow.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Stars in lieu of second and third award and Combat Action Ribbon.
He is a 1995 graduate of Illinois State University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.
Major Monroe is married to the former Joy Elizabeth Cline. They have two children, Ryan Thomas (5) and Lydia Jane (2).
