Board/Staff Profiles
GENERAL AL GRAY,
USMC (Ret), 29th Commandant, At-Large Member,
Executive Committee, Institute Founder

General Al Gray, USMC (Ret),
29th Commandant
At-Large Member, Executive Committee, Institute Founder
General Al Gray enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1950.
General Al Gray presided over changes in training in the 1970s with an emphasis on large-scale maneuver in desert and cold-weather environments, and changed Marine doctrine to one of maneuver warfare in the 1980s. This transformation from the Vietnam War-era is sometimes called the second enlightenment of the Marine Corps (the first being under Major General John A. Lejeune), and included development of a robust maritime special operations capability, emphasis on the education of leaders, establishment of Marine Corps University, and development of a long-range desert operations capability. As a reminder that the primary role of every Marine is a rifleman, he had his official photograph taken in the Camouflage Utility Uniform, the only commandant to have done so. Al Gray Civic Institute is named for General Gray, whose vision for the institute is longstanding. See Commander’s Intent for the Institute’s statement of purpose.