Benjamin Joseph Hawthorne
'Ewa Beach,HI
Summary
After 26 years in the Marine Corps, I have served in a multitude of diverse billets. The positions demanded flexibility, adaptability, and growth. I was better served by fulling roles outside of my assigned military specialty as a communications officer. Serving at installations expanded my knowledge on facilities maintenance and community based services and safety. Recruiting helped me appreciate my work force and the arduous process of finding qualified men and women. Working side-by-side with countries from around the globe, primarily East Africa and East Asia, honed my teamwork and communication skills. My current position as an educator is a constant reminder of the importance of solid mentorship skills and our responsibility to prepare our youth if we want to see a prosperous future.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Marine Instructor
Kapolei High School
Kapolei, HI
08.2022 - Current
- Responsible for curriculum development and execution for leadership studies and basic military related topics.
- Planned and executed field trips to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Normandy, France, USS Missouri, Aviation Museum and several other smaller engagements.
- Oversaw the athletic, cyber, academic, rifle, and nationally recognized armed drill team.
- Coordinated over 16,000 hours of community service with USVETS, AMVET, Honolulu Marathon, community farms and a variety of smaller community organizations.
Training Team Officer
8th Marine Corps District
07.2017 - 07.2019
- Led a 12-person team in the execution of site assist training visits and systematic recruiting inspections on eight geographically dispersed recruiting stations covering Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming.
- Conducted formal training on systematic recruiting and communication and counseling skills.
- Charged with the conduct of four Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship selection boards, screening over 1000 applicants per year.
- Conducted monthly analysis on recruiting metrics to identify critical points of failure.
- Served as investigating officer on four separate occasions and administrative separations board president on two occasions.
- Planned, coordinated, and executed two off-site leadership symposiums for over 100 personnel for training and team-building.
- Analyzed performance data to drive improvements in recruitment processes and outcomes.
- Conducted regular assessments of training programs to ensure compliance with standards and regulations.
- Mentored junior staff members, helping them develop their skills and advance in their careers.
- Created an online learning environment and resource library for on-boarding of new recruiting station commanders and leadership.
- Managed departmental budgets effectively, ensuring optimal allocation of resources for necessary equipment and training.
- Improved team morale and performance with consistent feedback and recognition of achievements.
- Facilitated collaboration between operations, officer-procurement, finance, logistics, and marketing, improving efficiency and effectiveness.
- Maintained database systems to track and analyze operational data.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
- Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
- Provided reporting for forecast analysis and ad-hoc reporting in support of decision-making.
- Mentored junior officers, providing guidance and support to foster professional development in their newly assigned roles.
Executive Officer
Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 28
05.2015 - 06.2017
- Oversaw and managed staff functions for MWCS 28.
- Managed the Squadron’s internal inspection program by selecting program managers, scheduling assist visits with higher headquarters, archiving official and unofficial inspections, providing after-action plans, and following up on all program deficiencies.
- Ensured the administrative, legal, medical, and dental readiness of over 560 Marines.
- Oversaw maintenance management for satellite, tropospheric, and line-of-sight communications terminals, as well as all motor transport, engineer, and utility support equipment. Received superior scores during maintenance inspections.
- Security Manager for MWCS 28, overseeing the physical security, individual security clearances, and Electronic Key Management (cryptology).
- Managed facilities and maintenance for enlisted living quarters, three warehouses, two maintenance activity locations, and three office buildings.
- Responsible for collaborating with the staff to compile yearly unit award write-ups. This garnered one unit award for best medium-sized unit within II Marine Expeditionary Force.
- Directly responsible for 24 hour reporting and follow-on command responsibilities for events involving suicide, sexual assault, serious injuries, or death.
C-63 Operations Officer
Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, Djibouti
04.2014 - 04.2015
- Responsible to operating and maintaining the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Data Sharing Network (ADSN), extending releasable information to troop contributing countries to AMISOM (Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi) via satellite hub/spoke architecture.
- Provided expeditionary communications support for security operations in Juba, South Sudan.
- Augmented the Emergency Action Force for embassy support in East Africa with a robust communications team capable of host data services, secure phone at the secrete level, and single channel radio.
- Extended information services to US forces in four separate African countries - Somalia, Kenya, Seychelles, and Djibouti.
- Installed satellite terminal and conducted training for Ethiopian Ministry of Defense, the first military-to-military engagement with Ethiopia and the United States. Hosted follow-on training for the Ethiopians in Djibouti.
- Oversaw and led 64 Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airman.
- Coordinated and led meetings to inform management and stakeholders of operational challenges and suggested improvements.
- Improved communication by facilitating the technical requirements for the fusion action cells, incorporating liaison officers from Uganda, Burundi, Yemen, Ethiopia, and Kenya into functional areas while protecting the integrity of secure networks.
Information Management Officer
2D Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW)
08.2013 - 04.2014
- Managed the Battle Command Display for 2D MAW, providing the Commanding General with a visual display of staff functions.
- Managed the 2D MAW SharePoint server and created content for various staff sections and subordinate commands.
- Developed a communication workflow for reporting aircraft readiness, air missions, and archiving mission activities, providing 2 hours of workforce savings per day.
- Brief the 2nd MAW Commanding General on a weekly basis concerning information sharing and staff collaboration efforts.
- Developed a tracking
Executive Officer
Recruiting Station Portland, OR
Portland, OR
06.2010 - 06.2013
- Responsible for administration, legal, congressional correspondence, facilities management, vehicle management, supply, marketing, public affairs, and communications for a recruiting regional area covering Oregon, Southwest Washington, and Alaska and overseeing 32 offices.
- Responsible for the High School/Community College Program, Music Enlistment Option Program, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) program, and the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship program.
- Coordinated meetings between the Super Intendent for Portland Public School systems and the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to increase recruiter access and establish policies beneficial for both parties while working closely with the boards legal team. This resulted in a 200 percent increase in school access for all branches.
- Hosted the first Marine Corps Band Camp. In coordination with the University of Oregon, hosted a Band Camp for eight schools, and approximately 300 students, within Central Oregon utilizing members from the Marine Corps field bands. This event was so successful, that it continues to this day.
- Due to the absence of Community and Marketing Affairs specialist, assumed all responsibilities of community outreach and marketing for the recruiting station. Using existing staff, these duties were spread among my staff and executed in accordance with standards required of the billet.
Education
Master of Science - Instructional Design And Technology
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN05.2019
Bachelor of Science - English
Towson University
Baltimore, MD12.2002
Associate of Arts - General
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, MD05.2001
Expeditionary Warfare School - Company Grade
Marine Corps University
Quantico, VA06.2006
Command And Staff - Professional Military Education
Marine Corps University
Quantico, VA05.2009
Skills
Specific skills that I have received training:
- Marine Corps Planning Process, closely mirrors many project management
- Instructional Design
- Lean Sigma Six process improvement
- Professional Selling Skills/ Recruiters Management Course
- Leadership and Staff Management
Timeline
Senior Marine Instructor
Kapolei High School
08.2022 - Current
Training Team Officer
8th Marine Corps District
07.2017 - 07.2019
Executive Officer
Marine Wing Communications Squadron (MWCS) 28
05.2015 - 06.2017
C-63 Operations Officer
Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, Djibouti
04.2014 - 04.2015
Information Management Officer
2D Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW)
08.2013 - 04.2014
Executive Officer
Recruiting Station Portland, OR
06.2010 - 06.2013
Master of Science - Instructional Design And Technology
Purdue University
Bachelor of Science - English
Towson University
Associate of Arts - General
Anne Arundel Community College
Expeditionary Warfare School - Company Grade
Marine Corps University
Command And Staff - Professional Military Education
Marine Corps University