SPEAKER BIOS

Colonel James C. (Charlie) Aplin, USMC

Biographical Information

Colonel James C. Aplin is currently serving as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters, Marine Corps Materiel Command, located at Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, GA.

Colonel Aplin was born on 16 July 1952 in Opp, Alabama and was raised in Crestview, Florida. A 1970 graduate of Crestview Senior High School, he holds a BS degree in US History and Social Science from Troy State University, Troy, Alabama, and a MS degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington, DC (1996). Colonel Aplin's formal military education includes the Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer's course (*1974), US Army Engineer Officer Advanced Course (1981) and the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College (1986).

Colonel Aplin was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1974 and designated a Combat Engineer Officer. While a Lieutenant, he served as a Logistics Plans Officer during operation "New Arrival" at MCB Camp Pendleton, CA; a Platoon Commander and Executive Officer with Company C, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2d Force Service Support Group at Camp Lejeune, NC; and consecutively as Construction Platoon Commander, S3, and Support Unit Commander with Wing Engineer Squadron 17, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

As a Captain, he served as Commanding Officer/Guard Officer, Security Company. Marine Barracks, Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, SC and as Officer in Charge, Detachment "B", Marine Wing Support Group 17, Marine Air Base Squadron 24, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI.

While a Major, he served as the Facilities Management Officer, Force Engineer Branch, Headquarters, Fleet Marine Forces, Pacific, Camp H.M. Smith, HI: Officer in Charge, III MEF Expeditionary Camp, Pohang, Republic of Korea; and as a Project Officer, PM Engineer Systems, Marine Corps Research, Development and Acquisition Command at MCB Quantico, VA.