Director's Biography

Keil Gentry
Museum Director

As a lieutenant, he served as Platoon Commander and XO, Battery F, 2d Battalion, 12th Marines. As a captain, he served as team leader and platoon commander, 2d ANGLICO; CO, Battery T and S3, 5th Battalion, 10th Marines; and Fire Support Officer, 22d MEU(SOC). As a major, he served as S3A, 10th Marines; Fire Support Officer, Joint Special Operations Command; and as XO, 2d Battalion, 11th Marines. As a lieutenant colonel, he served as the S4 and S3, 11th Marines; Fires and Information Operations Officer, 1st Marine Division; XO, RCT 1; and CO, 2d Battalion, 11th Marines. As a colonel, he served as the Head of National Plans, HQMC; CO, 12th Marines; Deputy Legislative Assistant to the CMC; and Director, MCWAR. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2016 and served as the Vice President for Business Affairs for MCU from 2016 to 2024. In 2024, he became the Director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
He participated in multiple named contingency operations including PROVIDE COMFORT, PROVIDE PROMISE, JOINT ENDEAVOR, ASSURED RESPONSE, QUICK RESPONSE, IRAQI FREEDOM, PHANTOM FURY/AL FAJR, and TOMODACHI.
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EDUCATION

• B.S., English, U.S. Naval Academy
• M.A., National Security Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff
• Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI
• Senior Course 111, NATO Defense College
• Joint Professional Military Education Phase II, Armed Forces Staff College

 
PUBLICATIONS

• Chapter 13 “In Fairness to All Parties”: The Marine Corps Corrects the Historical Record, Investigating Iwo, 2019
• “Land the Landing Force,” Marine Corps Gazette, August 2019
• “Identity Crisis between the Wars: How Doctrine Shaped the Marine Corps after World War I and Vietnam,” with Rebecca Jensen, MCU Journal, July 2017
• MCWP 6-11, Leading Marines, August 2014
• “Regimental Combat Team 1 Fires in the Battle of Fallujah,” Field Artillery, November–December 2005

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