Gregg Forrest Martin (born July 16, 1956) is a United States Army two-star general who retired as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers in 2014. From July 2012 to July 2014 he was the President of the National Defense University at Fort McNair Army Base in Washington, D.C. and from July 2010 to July 2012 he served as the Commandant of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA.[1][2] He served as second in command for 3rd Army/US Army Central in the Central Command Area of Responsibility, including support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and across the CENTCOM region from January 2010 to April 2010 and he led a complex enterprise of four major schools that educated, trained and developed thousands of soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors and civilians for leadership roles in global operations as the Commanding General at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from October 2008 to January 2010.[3] After retiring from the military, General Martin revealed that he is a survivor of bipolar disorder in an effort to reduce the stigma of that condition.[4]
Gregg F. Martin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait of MG Martin, 2012 | |
| Birth name | Gregg Forrest Martin |
| Born | July 16, 1956 |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1979–2014 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Alma mater | |
| Spouse(s) | Maggie Ryan |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editThe son of a World War II sailor and native New Englander, he graduated from Holbrook High School in Holbrook, MA in 1974 and was an Army ROTC walk-on at the University of Maine. He graduated from West Point in 1979 and was commissioned as an Army Engineer. He married Maggie Ryan and has a family of three sons: Philip, Connor, and Pat.
Education
editHe graduated from the West Point, U.S. Military Academy (USMA), in 1979 and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and Technology Policy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1988) where he would later earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Public Policy in 1992.[1]
Service career
editAs career Engineer Officer (20 years) in the US Army Martin served at Fort Belvoir, Fort Benning, Germany, Fort Lewis, Honduras, and Fort Leonard Wood as a combat and construction engineer. He first attended the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses at Fort Belvoir; continued his training at Ranger and Airborne School in Fort Benning; and began his career serving on the frontlines of the Cold War in 1979 as Platoon Leader, Company Commander, and Project Engineer in Germany defending the free world from the Soviet Union. After his 6-year tour in Germany Martin continued his service at Fort Lewis as an Engineer Staff Officer with I Corps and the 864th Engineer Battalion. This was followed by a year of service in Honduras as the Engineer Staff Officer for the Joint Task Force Bravo and a two-year tour as a Commander of the 5th Engineer Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
From January 1995 to June 1997 Martin serve as the Instructor and Course Director of the Department of Social Sciences at West Point where he taught and developed courses on American Politics, International Relations, and the Politics of Defense Policy. From June 2000 to June 2002 he was the Instructor and Course Director of Senior Leadership and Command Instruction at the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA. He designed
From 2002 to June 2004 Martin served as the Commander of the 130th Engineer Brigade. He trained and deployed a 3-battalion 1700-soldier brigade from Germany to Kuwait, where the force joined the attack of Iraq, as an essential element of the initial assault on Baghdad. The Brigade received American and Allied units from around the world and expanded to more than 20 battalions and 13,000 troops, conducting full spectrum engineer operations across the breadth and depth of Iraq from 2003 to 2004.
Martin continued his service as the Deputy G3/5/7 of US Army Europe and 7th Army coordinating operations, planning, training, and international activities for US Army Forces in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (deployed force into Iraq and Afghanistan). From July 2005 to October 2007 he served as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division Commander and Division Engineer of a $2Bn program encompassing Military Construction, Civil Works, Environmental and Disaster Preparedness over a 14 state region. Martin was a Presidential appointee on the Mississippi River Commission and also took part in support efforts for Hurricane Katrina.
He led a complex enterprise of four major schools that educated, trained and developed thousands of soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors and civilians for leadership roles in global operations as the Commanding General at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri from October 2008 to January 2010.[3] He served as second in command for 3rd Army/US Army Central in the Central Command Area of Responsibility, including support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and across the CENTCOM region from January 2010 to April 2010.[3] From July 2010 to June 2012 Martin presided as the Commandant of the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA and the President of the National Defense University from July 2012 to July 2014. He retired as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers (Major General US Army Corps of Engineers) working towards the Corps' 2025 Future Posture, emphasizing national infrastructure development, optimizing value for Federal engineering and facilities construction.
Mental health advocacy
editMajor General Gregg Martin has become a prominent advocate for mental health awareness, drawing on his personal experiences with bipolar disorder to shed light on the challenges faced by individuals with the condition. After a distinguished 36-year career in the United States Army, Martin's journey with undiagnosed mental illness culminated in a public battle that he has since turned into a platform for advocacy and education.
His book, "Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness," provides an unvarnished account of his experiences, offering insights into the intersection of mental health and military service. The memoir shares Martin's story of resilience and perseverance, detailing his life as a combat engineer and two-star general while coping with and overcoming the challenges of bipolar disorder. His efforts have been noted in various articles and interviews, where he openly discusses the impact of mental illness on his life and career.
In a Florida Today article dated November 29, 2022, Martin recalls the day he was asked to resign from his post prior to his bipolar diagnosis, a moment that highlights the often unseen struggles of mental health in high-pressure environments. His story continues to be a testament to the complexities of mental health in the armed forces, as seen in his September 15, 2023, feature by the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). The AUSA event focused on his book and his experiences, providing a platform for dialogue and understanding about mental health issues in the military community.
Additionally, Martin's narrative has been featured in Military Times on March 29, 2023, where he described bipolar disorder as both a curse and a blessing, reflecting on how it has shaped his perspectives on leadership and adversity. His advocacy efforts emphasize the importance of de-stigmatizing mental health conditions, particularly in the veteran and active-duty populations.
Martin's dedication to mental health advocacy is further exemplified through public speaking engagements and his presence in media. For instance, WBUR's coverage on May 24, 2021, reveals his mission to bring attention to bipolar disorder that ended his military career but also gave him a new purpose. Through his public discourse, he aims to inspire change, understanding, and provide support to others facing similar battles.
In essence, Major General Gregg Martin's advocacy transcends his military accolades, positioning him as a pivotal figure in the conversation on mental health. His contributions to raising awareness and supporting others with bipolar disorder underscore his commitment to service, both in uniform and beyond.
References
edit
- ^ a b "Martin Becomes 14th National Defense University President". National Defense University. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ Cress, Joseph (July 21, 2010). "Homecoming: New commandant reports for duty". The Sentinel. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ a b c "General Officer Announcement dtd 20 August 2008 - General Officer Management Office". www.gomo.army.mil. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ Martin, G., 2022. How Bipolar Disorder Derailed My Life, and How I Fought Back. [online] Psychology Today. Available at: <https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/bipolar-general/202206/how-bipolar-disorder-derailed-my-life-and-how-i-fought-back> [Accessed 8 August 2022].
External links
edit- "Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness" book on Amazon - Major General Gregg Martin's memoir that explores his battle with bipolar disorder and its impact on his military career.
- Florida Today article on Martin's recollection of his resignation prior to bipolar diagnosis - An article detailing Major General Martin's experience of being asked to resign due to mental health issues, before his bipolar diagnosis.
- AUSA event on "Bipolar General: My Forever War with Mental Illness" - An event hosted by the Association of the United States Army discussing Major General Martin's book and advocacy work.
- Military Times commentary on bipolar disorder by Gregg Martin - Commentary by Martin in which he describes bipolar disorder as both a curse and a blessing, reflecting on its effects on leadership and adversity.
- WBUR news coverage on Gregg Martin and bipolar disorder - A news report that delves into Major General Martin's mission to increase awareness of bipolar disorder, a condition that ended his military career but gave him a new purpose.