Leslie Mather Palm (born October 14, 1944) is a retired United States Marine Corps major general and former publisher and CEO of the Marine Corps Association. His last active duty position was the Director, Marine Corps Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. (1996–1998). Palm retired on September 1, 1998. Biography Leslie Palm was born on October 14, 1944, in Marysville, California. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology in 1966 from the University of Oregon, where he was a member of Sigma Chi. He later earned a master's degree in Military Arts and Sciences from the Army Command and General Staff College in 1980 and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 1986. Palm entered the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Course Program and was commissioned a second lieutenant on November 1, 1966. Upon completion of The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in August 1967, he attended Field Artillery Officers Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, graduating in November 1967. From December 1967 to December 1968, Palm served in Vietnam as a Forward Observer and Fire Direction Officer in the 1st Battalion, 13th Marines at Khe Sanh. He also commanded a 155 mm gun platoon and 8" platoon of the 5th 155 mm Gun Battery. Upon returning to the United States he was assigned to Fort Sill as a gunnery instructor in both the basic and career branches. While in this assignment, he was promoted to captain on December 1, 1970. In January 1972, he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa where he commanded D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines and served as the Battalion S-3 Officer. Returning from overseas, he attended the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, then was reassigned to The Basic School, where he commanded the Artillery Demonstration Unit. During May 1974, he transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he was assigned to the Officer Assignment Section until June 1976, when he was selected as the aide-de-camp to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was promoted to major on July 1, 1977. From July 1977 to June 1979, he served in the 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as the S-3 Officer for the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines. He then attended the Army Command & General Staff College, graduating in June 1980. General Palm was ordered to