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Colonel Harold C. Bass
Commanding Officer

Colonel Harold C. Bass is a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps graduate from Jacksonville University. During April 1986, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Physics. Following completion of The Basic School, he attended the Field Artillery Officer's Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and was graduated with honors. He then served in Okinawa, Japan as a Forward Observer, Fire Direction Officer and Platoon Commander with Battery I, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines. During this tour, he also served as Executive Officer with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marines, and Headquarters Battery Commander and Assistant S-3 with 2d Battalion, 12th Marines.

 

During April 1990, First Lieutenant Bass was reassigned to Marine Corps Security Force Company, Adak, Alaska where he served as a Platoon Commander and Guard Officer. During September 1991, he attended the Field Artillery Officer's Advanced Course and was graduated with honors. From April 1992 to April 1994, Captain Bass served as the Assistant S-3 Officer for 5th Battalion, 10th Marines and as Battery Commander for Battery S, 5th Battalion, 10th Marines where he deployed with Battalion Landing Team 1/2, participating in Operation RESTORE HOPE and CONTINUE HOPE, Somalia and Operation CEASE FIRE, Kuwait.

In April 1994 Captain Bass reported to 5th Battalion, 14th Marines in Los Angeles, California where he served first as the Inspector Instructor, Battery O and then as the Assistant Battalion Inspector Instructor. During August 1997, Major Bass attended the College of Naval Command and Staff where he was graduated with highest distinction and received a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. During June 1998, he was reassigned to 5th Battalion, 10th Marines where he served as Executive Officer until July 2000.

Between August 2000 and June 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Bass served as a Joint Exercise Planner and the lead project officer for the Joint National Training Capability with the Joint Training Directorate J-7/Joint Warfighting Center, US Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia and designated as a Joint Qualified Officer. From July 2003 until July 2005, he served as the Inspector Instructor, 3d Battalion, 14th Marines in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following this tour, he served as a current operations officer with Combine Forces Command/US Forces Korea until July 2007. He was then assigned as a CMC Military Fellow to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Security Studies Program. During August 2008, Colonel Bass reported to II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejuene and deployed in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from January to October 2009 as the team leader for the Anbar Operations Command Advisor Team. He was then assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-7/Inspector General for the 2d Marine Division. During August 2010, he assumed his current duties as the Professor of Naval Science at Florida A&M University.

Colonel Bass' personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star.