The next speaker in the Pennington School’s Stephen Crane lecture series is Lt. Col. Kyle B. Ellison.
Ellison was invited to speak at the school by student Clare Long, who met Ellison through her longstanding volunteer work with American troops overseas and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Ellison is set to discuss his experience with the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following the discussion, he will meet with student leaders, attend classes, and spend some time with Pennington School alumni who have also served our country as members of the military. A service project is also planned for the afternoon.
Commissioned in May 1993, Ellison is currently assigned to the J-5, Middle East Directorate, on the Joint Staff. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the Pennsylvania State University and master’s degrees in operational studies from the Marine Corps University and in national security strategy from the National War College.
During his more than 20 years in the Corps, Ellison served with the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, which he later commanded; the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable); the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.; the First Battalion, Seventh Marines; Regimental Combat Team Seven; the Marine Corps University; and the First Marine Expeditionary Force. His deployments include Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Okinawa, Japan, Marjah, Afghanistan and Iraq.
In addition to his command of the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, Ellison’s assignments have included those as weapons company commander, battalion operations officer, and senior aide de camp to the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
The Wounded Warrior Project is a veterans’ organization whose mission is “to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history.” The organization aims to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid to help injured service members.
The lecture is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 19 at Pennington Presbyterian Church, 13 South Main St., Pennington. It is open to the public.
