2013 STARS Hall of Fame

Lt. General John Goodman

Lieutenant General John F. Goodman retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after a distinguished career.  His last assignment was as the Commanding General, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.

A native of Sacramento, CA, General Goodman graduated from Encina High school and Arizona State University. He began his military service in 1967 with the U.S. Army. His first combat tour was in the Republic of Vietnam as a member of a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team. He transferred to the inactive Army Reserve in 1969 and played professional football for the New Orleans Saints prior to entering the U.S. Marine Corps in 1971.

Following commissioning, General Goodman received his pilot's wings in May 1973 and was assigned to MCAS Yuma, Arizona. During his tenure in Yuma he served in numerous squadron billets including LSO, flight instructor and WTI. He also served as a Forward Air Controller and graduated from the Marine Corps WTI School, the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School and the U.S. Navy TOPGUN Adversary Course. In 1979 he transferred to MAWTS-1 as an instructor then attended Marine Corps Command and Staff College prior to reporting to MCAS El Toro, where he served as the Operations Officer of VMA-214 and later as the MAG-13 Director of Safety, Standardization and Tactics.

After a 1985-86 tour on Okinawa as the Assistant Division Air Officer, 3d Marine Division, General Goodman returned to MCAS El Toro, following F/A18 conversion training. There he served as the Executive Officer of the VMFA-531, the Assistant Operations Officer, MCCRTG-10, and the Operations Officer, MAG-11, then assumed command of VMFA-531. In June 1990 General Goodman attended the Marine Corps' first War College class (MCWAR). During the academic year he joined the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Kuwaiti Theater of Operations, as I MEF's Future Operations Officer. Following cessation of hostilities, he completed War College and was assigned as the Director of the School of Advanced Warfighting. In July 1993 General Goodman assumed command of MAG 41, NAS Dallas, Texas. In July 1995 he returned to Quantico as the Deputy Director of the MAGTF Staff Training Program. Promoted to Brigadier General in May 1997, he assumed the position of Director, Strategy, Policy and Plans (J5) of USSOUTHCOM. In May 1998 he assumed the duties of Chief of Staff USSOUTHCOM. In July 1999 he returned to Quantico as the Director, Warfighting Development Integration Division. General Goodman was frocked to Major General in June 2001 and took command of the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade. In August 2002, General Goodman assumed command of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan then served as the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea and Assistant Chief of Staff, U/C/J-5, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea from June 2004 until June 2005. On 20 June 2005 he reported for duty as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific.

General Goodman has logged more than 4100 hours in tactical jet aircraft.

General Goodman has been married to the former Gayle Stevenson of Spokane, WA, for 41 years. Their family includes Major (USMCR) John and Stephanie Goodman and Ava Goodman (granddaughter), San Diego, CA, Captain Jeffrey and Sara Goodman, Vista, CA, and Michael Goodman, UNLV, Las Vegas, NV.