MARINE BARRACKS, Wash. D.C. -- Colonel Richard T. Tryon assumed command of Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. today, during a ceremony held on the historic parade grounds of "8th and I."
Colonel Richard T. Tryon enlisted in the Navy in 1970, and was subsequently commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1975, upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy.
After completing The Basic School in April 1976, he held a variety of company grade assignments in 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, served as Aide de Camp to the commanding general I MAF/1st Marine Division, and completed a tour as company commander, Headquarters Company, 4th Marines in Okinawa. Upon returning to the United States, he served as operations officer, executive officer, and commanding officer of Recruiting Station New York City until attending Amphibious Warfare School in 1983. Following completion of AWS, he joined 2d Battalion, 5th Marines where he served as company commander and battalion operations officer. He subsequently attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., in 1987, where he concurrently earned a masters degree in management.
During June 1988, he transferred to the Special Operations Command, Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, where he was assigned to the J-3 as a contingency operations officer. He deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and served as assistant operations officer, Joint Special Operations Task Force, JTF Proven Force. Following Operation Desert Storm, he deployed as a member of Joint Special Operations Task Force Provide Comfort operating in Northern Iraq and Southern Turkey.
In July 1991, he was assigned to the Special Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force for duty as the director of the Special Missions Branch. Reassigned during March 1993, he served as commanding officer of 2d Battalion, 8th Marines until February 1995. Following his tour with the 2d Marine Division, he was assigned to the Joint Staff as Deputy Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman until August 1997. From September 1997, to April 1998, he attended The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and subsequently completed the requirements for a master of arts degree in international public policy. Colonel Tryon assumed command of the 24th MEU May 1, 1998.
Colonel Tryon's personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.