Douglas M. Stone (general)
Encyclopedia
Douglas M. Stone is a Major General, United States
Marine Forces Reserve, Retired. He recently relinquished the position of Deputy Commanding General, Detainee Operations, Multi-National Force-Iraq and Commander, Task Force 134, commanding all detention operations in at Camp Cropper
, Camp Bucca
and Camp Ashraf
. He was nominated for Lieutenant General
and was to be head of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North.
after graduating from the United States Naval Academy
in 1973. He served on active duty until 1978 holding positions of Weapons Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Assistant Operations Officer and Commanding Officer, Company A, Marine Barracks, Guam
.
Most recently Stone commanded detention facilities in Iraq, where his reforms were widely admired.
Stone changed the structure of the detention, to more quickly expedite the release of captives who weren't enemies, or whose ties to the militants had been based on money, not ideology. And Stone changed how those held in detention were treated, allowing them visits from their family, and meaningful job skills training.
In April 2009 General David Petraeus
called upon Stone to apply his successful experiene from Iraq to study the USA's policy on detaining captives apprehended in Afghanistan
.
His 700-page report was finished in August 2009, and Stone briefed senior officials including: Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, Richard Holbrooke
(President
Barack Obama
's Special Envoy for the region), and General Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
National Public Radio reports that while his report has not yet been made public officials briefed by him say he recommends releasing most Afghan captives, many of whom were not militants, just individuals rounded up in random sweeps. He is also reported to have recommended that those the USA does detain receive the same kind of rehabilitation the captives whose detention he supervised in Iraq received.
According to Radio Free Europe
, Amnesty International
's Asia-Pacific director, Sam Zia Zarifi, paraphrased Stone's report on the USA's detentions in Afghanistan: "pointed out that the lack of a legal structure for Bagram means that it is undermining the rule of law in Afghanistan and it has caused a lot of resentment among Afghans.".
Liaison Officer) in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Foundation, and on the Board of Advisors to the Naval Post Graduate School.
from the United States Naval Academy, he earned advanced degrees from Pepperdine University
, Stanford University
and the Naval War College
. He earned a doctorate
in Public Administration
from the University of Southern California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Marine Forces Reserve, Retired. He recently relinquished the position of Deputy Commanding General, Detainee Operations, Multi-National Force-Iraq and Commander, Task Force 134, commanding all detention operations in at Camp Cropper
Camp Cropper
Camp Cropper is a holding facility for security detainees operated by the United States Army near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. The facility was initially operated as a high-value detention site , but has since been expanded increasing its capacity from 163 to 2,000 detainees...
, Camp Bucca
Camp Bucca
Camp Bucca was a detention facility maintained by the United States military in the vicinity of Umm Qasr, Iraq. As of June 2011, a group of entrepreneurial Iraqis and Americans are re-building Camp Bucca as Basra Gateway, a logistics city and environmentally-friendly industrial hub to lead the new...
and Camp Ashraf
Camp Ashraf
Camp Ashraf or Ashraf City is situated northeast of the Iraqi town of Khalis, about 120 kilometers west of the Iranian border and 60 kilometers north of Baghdad, and is the seat of the People's Mujahedin of Iran in Iraq...
. He was nominated for Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
and was to be head of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North.
Active duty
MG Stone was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
after graduating from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1973. He served on active duty until 1978 holding positions of Weapons Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Assistant Operations Officer and Commanding Officer, Company A, Marine Barracks, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.
Assignments
In 1978, MG Stone accepted a reserve commission; and over the years served in the following positions:- Commanding Officer, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment3rd Battalion 23rd Marines3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout the Southern United States consisting of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. The battalion is headquartered in Belle Chase, Louisiana with outlying units throughout the...
- Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, 23rd Marine Regiment
- Operations Officer 2nd Battalion, 23nd Marine Regiment2nd Battalion 23rd Marines2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines is a reserve infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps located throughout the Western United States consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors...
- Battalion Commander 2nd Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment
- Deputy Commander, Marine Augmentation Command Element, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp PendletonMarine Corps Base Camp PendletonMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... - Marine Officer in Charge, Executive Support Center, Office of the Secretary of DefenseOffice of the Secretary of DefenseThe Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...
(Joint Staff) - Commanding General, Marine Corps Mobilization Command
- Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (Mob)
- Commanding General, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat CenterMarine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine PalmsThe Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center , also known as 29 Palms, is a United States Marine Corps base. It was a census-designated place officially known as Twentynine Palms Base located adjacent to the city of Twentynine Palms in southern San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2000...
Most recently Stone commanded detention facilities in Iraq, where his reforms were widely admired.
Stone changed the structure of the detention, to more quickly expedite the release of captives who weren't enemies, or whose ties to the militants had been based on money, not ideology. And Stone changed how those held in detention were treated, allowing them visits from their family, and meaningful job skills training.
In April 2009 General David Petraeus
David Petraeus
David Howell Petraeus is the current Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, sworn in on September 6, 2011. Prior to his assuming the directorship of the CIA, Petraeus was a four-star general serving over 37 years in the United States Army. His last assignments in the Army were as commander...
called upon Stone to apply his successful experiene from Iraq to study the USA's policy on detaining captives apprehended in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
His 700-page report was finished in August 2009, and Stone briefed senior officials including: Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Hillary Clinton, Richard Holbrooke
Richard Holbrooke
Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....
(President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's Special Envoy for the region), and General Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
National Public Radio reports that while his report has not yet been made public officials briefed by him say he recommends releasing most Afghan captives, many of whom were not militants, just individuals rounded up in random sweeps. He is also reported to have recommended that those the USA does detain receive the same kind of rehabilitation the captives whose detention he supervised in Iraq received.
According to Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a broadcaster funded by the U.S. Congress that provides news, information, and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East "where the free flow of information is either banned by government authorities or not fully developed"...
, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
's Asia-Pacific director, Sam Zia Zarifi, paraphrased Stone's report on the USA's detentions in Afghanistan: "pointed out that the lack of a legal structure for Bagram means that it is undermining the rule of law in Afghanistan and it has caused a lot of resentment among Afghans.".
Activations
Prior to being activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom, MG Stone had been activated once previously. He was activated and served with the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The Battalion, as part of its deployment to Okinawa was sent to Japan as MAGTF 4-91 supporting contingency and humanitarian relief operations in the Western Pacific. From May 2003 to August 2004 he served as the U.S. Defense Representative (and CENTCOMUnited States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
Liaison Officer) in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Special positions
MG Stone has served on the USMC Reserve Policy Board, the Board of Directors for the Toys for TotsToys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
Foundation, and on the Board of Advisors to the Naval Post Graduate School.
Awards and honors
SCUBA Diver Insignia Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia Parachutist Badge (United States) The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy... Naval Aviation Observer Badge |
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Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."... |
Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... |
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense... |
Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (United States) The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969... |
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge The Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge is a military badge issued to members of the United States armed forces who are permanently assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and its subordinate offices, and in addition, to some of the Defense Agencies and Department of... |
Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may... |
Joint Service Achievement Medal Achievement Medal The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service... |
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Joint Meritorious Unit Award The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982... w/ 1 oak leaf cluster Oak leaf cluster An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration... |
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944... |
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Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... |
Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal | National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... w/ 2 service star Service star A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service... s |
Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during... |
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Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,... |
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003... |
Armed Forces Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal The Armed Forces Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created on January 11, 1996 by President Bill Clinton under... |
Humanitarian Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under... |
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Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is a military award which was created under Executive Order 12830 by George H. W. Bush on January 9, 1993... |
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Sea Service Ribbon A Sea Service Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and the United States Army which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a vessel at sea.... |
Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon An Overseas Service Ribbon is a service military award of the United States military which recognizes those service members who have performed military tours of duty outside the borders of the United States of America. There are different versions of the Overseas Service Ribbons for the U.S. Army,... |
Armed Forces Reserve Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America.... w/ Gold Hourglass Device Hourglass Device The Hourglass Device is a military award of the United States armed forces presented as an attachment to the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. The Hourglass Device denotes total service as a member of the Reserve or National Guard and is issued in three degrees.... & Mobilization Device Mobilization Device The Mobilization Device is an award attachment to the United States Armed Forces Reserve Medal which denotes those who have received the decoration for duty in a recall to active service from a reserve or National Guard component of the United States military.The Mobilization Device was first... |
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- MajGen Stone was an honor graduate at Army Ranger SchoolRanger SchoolThe United States Army Ranger School is an intense 61-day combat leadership course oriented towards small-unit tactics. It has been called the "toughest combat course in the world" and "is the most physically and mentally demanding leadership school the Army has to offer". The course is conducted...
.
Civilian career
MG Stone held various executive management positions at major computer and electronics firms and has been CEO of three software development firms.Education
In addition to earning his Bachelor of Science DegreeBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the United States Naval Academy, he earned advanced degrees from Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
. He earned a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
External links
- Detainee ops commander visits 402nd TF Outlaw, Fort BlissFort BlissFort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
Monitor - General Officer Announcements, Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
Public Affairs News Release - Scared Straight: Iraqi Style, Newsweek
- Children doing battle in Iraq, Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
- Juvenile detainees gain second chance through Dar Al-Hikmah, MNFI Press Release