Richard C. Armitage is a United States Navy officer and a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command from May 2005 to October 2007, and as the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development & Integration from July 2004 to May 2005.
General Armitage was born in San Diego, California, on September 12, 1946
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He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering in 1969 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He completed his service obligation as a reservist at San Diego Naval Air Station receiving his commission through the Regular Officer Training Program in 1970.
General Armitage's first assignment with the Marine Corps was as a company commander with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton from June 1970 to July 1971. He was transferred to Quantico, Virginia, where he served with Headquarters Marine Corps from July 1971 until May 1972 as an infantry platoon commander and later as executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines.
He received his first command assignment as commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton from June 1972 to June 1975. He completed his active duty service commitment with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as operations officer and executive officer from June 1975 to April 1976. General Armitage then attended the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, graduating in 1977 with an associate degree in national security affairs.
He transferred to Quantico for duty as an instructor with Marine Corps Development and Education Center until July 1978 when he joined the 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) staff at Camp Pendleton, where he served until August 1980 as assistant operations officer and later executive officer of 3rd Battalion 1st Marines (Reinforced).
General Armitage transferred to New Orleans where he served on the staff of Headquarters Marine Corps until January 1983 when he became chief of staff for 3rd Force Service Support Group at New Orleans until August 1984. His last assignment was again with 3rd Force Service Support Group at New Orleans until July 1986 when he was assigned to 1st Force Service Support Group (Provisional) at Camp Pendleton until July 1988 when he joined HQMC (U), Washington D.C., as assistant chief of staff for combat development where he served until August 1990 when he
