Major General Ted Hopgood is the President, Marine Corps University/Commanding General, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Va.
General Hopgood was born on Aug. 6, 1943, in Belleville, Illinois, and graduated from high school in Williston, North Dakota. He received a B.S. degree in Physical Education from Texas A&M University in May 1965, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He also holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia (1976).
After completion of The Basic School at Quantico, Va., in December 1965, he served in Vietnam as Platoon Leader and Company Commander of Company K, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. In March 1967, he was transferred to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., where he participated in ceremonial duties while serving as Platoon Leader and Company Commander. He was promoted to captain in October 1967.
Completing the Amphibious Warfare School in July 1969, he returned to Vietnam where he commanded Company C, 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, and served as Aide-de-Camp to the commanding general of the 3d Marine Division. He participated in redeployment of the division back to Okinawa during November 1969. In April 1970, he returned to Vietnam and commanded Company E, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines.
Returning to the United States in November 1970, General Hopgood was assigned to Quantico, where he served as an instructor at The Basic School until June 1972, when ordered to the Officer Assignment Section, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. Promoted to major in September 1974, he completed three years as the Infantry Captain Monitor in June 1975. Upon completion of Airborne Training, Fort Benning, Ga., in July 1975, he reported to the 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
While serving with the 2d Marine Division, he commanded the Division Headquarters Company for 10 months, and then served 26 months as the Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 6th Marines. From August 1978 until June 1979, General Hopgood attended the Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. Following graduation, he reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., where he served as Commanding Officer, 3d Recruit Training Battalion for 17 months. During this assignment, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1980.
From January to June 1983, he attended the Australian Joint Services Staff College in Canberra, Australia. He then served as an Operations Officer with the III MEF on Okinawa for a year. While assigned to the 1st Marine Division from July 1984 to June 1987, he served consecutive one year assignments as the Executive Officer of the 5th Marines, Division G-1, and Commanding Officer of Headquarters Battalion. He was promoted to colonel in July 1985.
General Hopgood commanded the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) from July 1987 until April 1990. While serving in this assignment, he was selected in December 1989 for promotion to brigadier general. He next served a fourteen month assignment as the Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center, the Pentagon. From September 1991 to June 1992, he served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division. While commanding the 1st Force Service Support Group from June 1992 to May 1993, he deployed his unit to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. He served as the Director for Operations, (J3), for the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, from June 1993 to July 1995. General Hopgood assumed his current assignment on August 11, 1995. His date of rank is September 1, 1993.
His personal decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and gold stars in lieu of a second and third award; and Navy Achievement Medal.