Executive Fellows

LtGen David A. Ottignon
_{USMC (Ret)}

David Ottignon is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General living in Northern Virginia. He earned an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and an NROTC commission from Ithaca College.

Over a 37-year career, David served worldwide, including assignments in training and operational commands. He commanded the Marine Corps’ premier crisis response force, the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), comprising over 40,000 Marines and Sailors. As the Commanding General of the II MEF, he led a multinational NATO exercise in Scandinavia with more than 22,000 US and NATO military personnel. Leading a diverse team of allies and partners, David designed, budgeted, and executed a complex campaign of objectives that resulted in the deployment, employment, and leadership of air and ground forces across three countries, achieving political and strategic military objectives with both existing and new NATO partners. 

David served as the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, handling recruiting, personnel management, and policy, and was an advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He also served as the Deputy Operating Officer (J3) for the U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, and as the Commanding General for Marine Corps logistics in the Indo-Pacific Region, leading over 9,000 Marines and Sailors in Combat Support and Combat Service Support operations. As the Inspector General for the Marine Corps, David led a diverse team to ensure compliance with and oversight of Marine Corps policies and directives. Additionally, David served as the Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy.

David is currently consulting for a private equity firm, providing executive leadership and organizational management coaching to various portfolio companies, and serves as a member of the Board of Advisors to Heavy Equipment Colleges of America.