Colonel Timothy M. Salmon was born and raised in New Jersey and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1982. After completing Boot Camp in Parris Island, SC and Infantry Training School in Camp Geiger, NC he served as a rifleman with G Co, 25th Marines in Dover, NJ. He then attended the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI and was commissioned from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD in 1988 with a BS in Political Science.

Colonel Salmon completed The Basic School, Quantico, VA in 1988; Flight School, Pensacola, FL in 1990; and CH-46E training at HMMT-301, MCAS Tustin, CA in 1991. He was the Adjutant and Aviation Safety Officer at HMM-161 (REIN) during two MEU (SOC) deployments to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf, and Horn of Africa in 1992 and 1994 participating in operations off the coast of Somalia.

Colonel Salmon attended the Amphibious Warfare School from 1995 – 1996. His follow-on assignment was to the Presidential Helicopter Squadron (HMX-1) from 1996 – 2000 where he flew President Clinton and Vice President Gore while serving as the Assistant S-4 Officer, Operations Duty Officer, and S-5 Officer.

Colonel Salmon returned to operating forces from 2000 – 2003 and served as the 2d Mar Div G3 and MAG-26 S-3 Assistant Operations Officer; HMM-261 (REIN) Executive Officer, Operations Officer, Det OIC, and Director of Safety and Standardization during workup and deployment with 22d MEU (SOC) to the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf, and Horn of Africa. He was also the II MEF G-7 Rotary Wing Air Officer.

Colonel Salmon transferred to HQMC where he served as the Programs and Resources, Program Development Officer and Aviation, Program Budget Officer from 2003 – 2006 in the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He then transferred to Okinawa, Japan and served as the MAG-36 Assistant Operations Officer before taking command of HMM-265 (REIN). He led the “Dragons” through three 31st MEU deployment cycles from 2007 – 2008 conducting Theater Security Cooperation with Partner Nations throughout the Western Pacific.

Colonel Salmon attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) from 2008 – 2009. He was then assigned to U.S. Southern Command in Miami, FL as the Current Operations Officer (J33) from 2009 – 2011, during which time he assisted in the coordination of Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE relief efforts to Haiti. Colonel Salmon returned to II MEF, Camp Lejeune, NC and served as the Future Operations Officer before deploying to Afghanistan where he served as the ISAF Joint Command Deputy CJ3 from Nov 2011 to Nov 2012. He is now the Acting Commanding Officer of II MEF Headquarters Group and will be the CO of MCAS New River, NC in July 2013.

His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, and Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star.