LtCol Theodore L. Wong, USMC

Theodore L Wong currently serves as the Wounded Warrior Regiment LNO to Marine Forces Reserve (MFR) in New Orleans, LA. in order to provide an on-site contact of the Wounded Warrior Regiment for the MFR Leadership and their Major Supported Commands in matters related to the care and support of wounded, ill and injured Marines, Sailors and their families that are assigned to MFR units through tracking, maintaining accountability and ensuring proper continuous care, support and education through the MFR units. The Wounded Warrior Regiment serves active, reserve and veteran Marines, Sailors and families throughout their phases of recovery.

LtCol Wong was born in San Francisco, CA and graduated from Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, CA. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1985 and attended boot camp at MCRD-San Diego. He received his commission through the Direct Commissioning Program as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1994 after earning his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Sonoma State University of California in 1992.

Prior to this assignment, he was the Officer In Charge, Detachment 29 Palms, Wounded Warrior Battalion-West with an area of responsibility which covered Veterans Administration Hospitals, Military Treatment Facilities and specialty care facilities as far north as Seattle, east to Salt Lake City and south to Phoenix. He published several policy letters on Code of Conduct, Force Preservation and Service Animals that were adopted throughout the Regiment, he was also recognized during Command, IG and Warrior Task Force inspections for "best practices."

As a LtCol, he completed the Non-resident Command and Staff weekend seminar and has held billets as the Peacetime Wartime Support Team Officer in Charge for 4th Force Reconnaissance Company in Alameda, CA. He developed a robust local outreach program to proactively develop public understanding about the Marine Corps to the local community and political leaders, coordinated with organizations to provide support to military members and their families prior to and during deployments and conducted return and reunion events and bi-annual Individual Ready Reserve Muster Processing. LtCol Wong’s previous assignments include Senior Watch Officer and Future Plans Officer for 23rd Marine Regiment from Nov 2008-Oct 2010 and instrumental in the planning and execution of Javelin Thrust 2009 and 2010.

As a Major, he served as the Commanding Officer for Headquarters Company, 23rd Marine Regiment in San Bruno, CA from Oct 2006 to Oct 2008. Major Wong became the senior ground officer during Cobra Gold 2008 to provide familiarization and cooperative training to the Royal Thai Royal Marines, Japanese Defense Forces, Indonesian and Singapore Armed Forces of our TTPs for HADR/NEO and FAST missions when the 31st MEU responded for Operation Caring Response when Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar. Major Wong was activated for his third mobilization in May 2005-Feb 2006 to become a Military Transition Team Advisor to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Brigade Iraqi Army that conducted combat operations in Mosul and Habbaniyah, Iraq. During this tour, he developed the first Iraqi Army Civil Affairs unit, was the convoy commander for over 50 vehicle convoys and participated in more than 75 mounted and

dismounted integrated combat patrols during his tour. In 2007, the Marine Corps Times selected him as the Marine of the Year and was also honored as for his community service as an Above and Beyond Honoree by the Northern California Institute of Research and Education for his work with veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

From 1998-2010, he held several key billets within the 23rd Marine Regiment in San Bruno, California to include the senior Casualty Call officer from 2002-2005 and completed the Reserve Infantry Officer’s Course in 2004. In 2001, he served overseas as the Operations Officer in both Macedonia and Bulgaria with special duty as the Force Protection Officer for Secretary of State Colin Powell. From 1984-1998, he held several leadership billets while assigned to the HAWK Missile Battalion in Hayward, California was the Distinguished Graduate as an officer and enlisted Marine in his primary MOS. As a subject matter expert in his field, he was inducted in the Honorable Order of St. Barbara for training his active duty counterparts in system upgrades to defend against the SCUD threat identified during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

LtCol Wong’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star, Joint Service Achievement Medal with bronze cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star and the Combat Action Ribbon.