Karsten Heckl

Karsten Selby Heckl (born September 2, 1964) is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who last served as the deputy commandant for combat development and integration and commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.^[2][3][4] Heckl previously served as the commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force. He previously served as commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.^[5][6][7][8]

Karsten Heckl
Birth name	Karsten Selby Heckl
Nickname(s)	Hazel[1]
Born	Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1988–2024
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	Marine Corps Combat Development Command I Marine Expeditionary Force 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing MAWTS-1 VMM-162
Battles / wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (2)
Alma mater	Georgia State University (BA)

On 30 October 2023, Heckl was made acting Commandant of the United States Marine Corps when Commandant Eric Smith was hospitalized, until he was relieved of his duties as acting Commandant when General Christopher J. Mahoney was sworn in as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on November 3. 2023.^[9][10]

References

1. "LT. GEN. KARSTEN "HAZEL" HECKL". Retrieved May 9, 2021.
2. "PN959 — Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl — Marine Corps — 117th Congress (2021-2022)". U.S. Congress. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
3. "General Officer Announcement". U.S. Department of Defense (Press release). August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
4. "LIEUTENANT GENERAL KARSTEN S. HECKL". Retrieved November 3, 2021.
5. "Marine Corps Announces New Aviation, Pacific Leadership Assignments". USNI News. May 6, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
6. "Major General Karsten Heckl Farewell Video". DVIDS. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
7. Pickrell, Ryan. "Marine Corps fires commander after 9 service members died when their amphibious assault vehicle sank into the sea". Business Insider. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
8. "Rita Anne Myers". Clarkesville, Georgia: Hillside Memorial Chapel and Gardens. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
9. Shelbourne, Mallory (October 30, 2023). "Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith Hospitalized". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
10. "General Christopher J. Mahoney". United States Marine Corps Flagship. Retrieved November 26, 2023.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

Military offices
Preceded by Matthew G. Glavy	Commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 2018–2020	Succeeded by Michael S. Cederholm
Preceded by Joseph Osterman	Commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force 2020–2021	Succeeded by George W. Smith Jr.
Preceded by Eric Smith	Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration of the United States Marine Corps and Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command 2021–2024	Succeeded by Eric E. Austin
	Commandant of the United States Marine Corps Acting 2023	Succeeded by Christopher J. Mahoney Acting